President Joe Biden Slams Trump for Unsupported Claims About Haitian Migrants Eating Pets: 'It's Simply Wrong'
President Biden says Trump needs to stop spreading false narratives.
President Joe Biden has responded to Donald Trump's unsubstantiated claims that Haitian migrants are eating pets in Ohio.
On Friday, President Biden spoke at a brunch celebrating Black excellence and criticized Trump for claiming that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio are kidnapping people's cats and dogs for food. Biden had mentioned White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who had also given an opening statement where she spoke about being a proud Haitian-American. According to Biden, Trump has to "stop" spreading the false narratives.
"[There are] so many Americans like Karine — as she pointed out, a proud Haitian American, a community that's under attack in our country right now," Biden said. "It's simply wrong. There's no place in America — this has to stop, what he's doing. It has to stop."
Jean-Pierre added, "It is extremely sad and concerning, that a community is facing this type of danger and vitriol, and as the president said today, I think very forcefully, this needs to stop. And there is absolutely no place - absolutely no place, in this country, you know, certainly in our political discourse for this type of vitriolic, smearing hateful language."
Trump made his wild claims during the presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday night. He stated that "people on television" from Springfield complained about their pets being devoured.
"In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating — they're eating the pets of the people that live there," Trump said. "The people on television say their dog was eaten by the people that went there."
People on social media ran with the claims and several stories and memes popped up regarding the situation. However, Springfield officials have stated there was no evidence supporting the racist claims.
"We have not been able to verify any credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community," Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said Tuesday, per the BBC.
