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Jimmy Williams
The White House on Tuesday warned of potential violence as debunked rumors about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, harming household pets continued to circulate, with Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance at the center of the controversy. The administration expressed concern that the false claims, widely shared on social media, could incite anti-immigrant violence.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby addressed the issue in a press briefing, emphasizing the dangerous nature of such disinformation. “This kind of disinformation is dangerous because there will be people that believe it no matter how ludicrous and stupid it is,” Kirby said. “And they might act on that kind of information and act on it in a way where somebody could get hurt. So, it needs to stop.”
The rumor, which alleges that Haitian immigrants in Springfield have been abducting and eating pets, originated on social media and quickly gained traction, particularly among supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Despite Springfield police issuing a statement Monday dismissing the claims—confirming there had been “no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community”—the rumor continued to spread.
Kirby urged a shift in focus to the plight of Haitians fleeing violence and political instability. “What’s deeply concerning to us is you’ve got now elected officials in the Republican Party pushing yet another conspiracy theory that’s just seeking to divide people based on lies and, let’s be honest, based on an element of racism,” Kirby added.
The roots of these allegations are tied to centuries-old racist narratives, according to experts. Marlene Daut, a Yale University professor, explained that the portrayal of Haitian immigrants as violent can be traced back to the nation’s independence following a successful slave revolt in 1804, which upended European and white American perceptions of Black sovereignty. This legacy of fear and bias, Daut suggested, is being reignited in contemporary political rhetoric.
Despite these warnings, Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio, has refused to back down. On Monday, he posted on X (formerly Twitter), claiming without evidence that Haitian migrants were involved in pet abductions. While he acknowledged the possibility that these rumors could be false, he continued to promote them, stating that Republicans should not be dissuaded by what he described as media “crybabies.”
“In the last several weeks, my office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield who’ve said their neighbors’ pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants,” Vance posted. “It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false.”
Vance also referred to the tragic death of 11-year-old Aiden Clark, who was killed when a minivan driven by Haitian immigrant Hermanio Joseph collided with his school bus in August 2023. Joseph was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide. Vance used this incident to further claim that the local community’s resources were being strained by an influx of migrants.
Responses to Vance’s posts on social media have been divided. Some users rallied behind the senator, sharing memes and echoing his sentiments, while others questioned the appropriateness of his focus on unverified pet abductions rather than addressing more immediate concerns through official channels, like the police.
As the rumors continue to fuel division, the White House has made it clear that such disinformation poses a serious threat to both immigrant communities and public safety. Whether the inflammatory rhetoric will subside or continue remains to be seen.
