Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine publicly condemned Donald Trump and other Republicans on Sunday for spreading false and inflammatory claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. Appearing on ABC’s “This Week”, DeWine called the rumors that Haitian migrants were stealing and eating local pets “garbage” and stressed the importance of focusing on the real issues facing the community.
DeWine Denounces Harmful Claims
“There’s a lot of garbage on the internet, and, you know, this is a piece of garbage that was simply not true,” DeWine said, dismissing rumors spread by Trump and others, including Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance. The claims, which began circulating weeks ago, allege that Haitian migrants in Springfield were stealing and eating cats and dogs—an unfounded rumor that has led to threats against the migrant community.
DeWine emphasized that these migrants are in Ohio legally and have significantly contributed to the local economy. “They came to Springfield to work. Ohio is on the move, and Springfield has really made a great resurgence with a lot of companies coming in,” DeWine explained. “What the companies tell us is that they are very good workers. They’re very happy to have them there.”
Addressing the Real Issues
While DeWine acknowledged that the influx of migrants has strained some community resources, he insisted that these challenges are being managed and asked for assistance to support the migrants’ integration. DeWine, who has endorsed Trump for president, nonetheless criticized the inflammatory rhetoric from his party, urging them to prioritize real issues affecting Ohioans rather than distracting from them with baseless claims.
Criticism of Trump’s Narrative
Trump’s repeated use of these harmful rumors in his debate with Kamala Harris has drawn widespread criticism. In an op-ed for The New York Times, journalist Lydia Polgreen blasted Trump for demonizing a group of legal immigrants who had come to America to escape hardship. “In his elevation of something akin to blood libel against a group of blameless legal immigrants… he has proved himself a dangerous and malevolent figure,” Polgreen wrote.
Critics argue that these baseless claims are not only misleading but also serve to stoke xenophobia and further divide the American electorate.
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