Wyclef Jean Responds to Trump's Baseless Claim About Haitian Immigrants Eating Pets: 'Stop Racist Messages'
Trump made the debunked claim during his first presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Wyclef Jean is urging U.S. voters to ignore the “crazy talk.”
On Thursday, September 12, the Grammy-winning artist shared a few thoughts on the first presidential debate against former president Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris. Wyclef was specifically asked to address one of the most-talked-about moments from the event: Trump’s claim that Haitian immigrants were abducting and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
“I will be forever grateful for my family’s life, for having a fair chance to live what is called the ‘American Dream,’” the Haitian-born artist told TMZ Hip-Hop. “I will be forever grateful for my family’s life, for having a fair chance to live what is called the ‘American Dream.’”
Wyclef, who immigrated to New York City at 9 years old, said one of America’s “greatest assets” is its immigrant community. He insisted Haitian-Americans are “good neighbors and good people” who care about “humanity.”
“On behalf of Haitian Americans, I ask that we stop these racist messages and accusations. Put our hands out in peace and say thanks for being my neighbor,” he continued. “We need to respect one another and vote based on policies and facts, not crazy talk. And we need to shake hands with one another and be thankful we are part of an America for all.”
This, of course, isn’t the first time Wyclef has spoken out against Trump’s racist rhetoric. Back in 2015, the Fugees member reportedly name-dropped Trump in a freestyle during Lollapalooza.
“F*ck Donald Trump/He don’t like the Mexicans,” Wyclef declared, as reported by Page Six.
He later blasted Trump’s plan to deport roughly 60,000 Haitians who received residency protection following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
During Tuesday night’s presidential debate, Trump accused the Biden-Harris administration of allowing “millions and millions” of immigrants to enter the country and claimed that Haitian migrants were eating residents’ pets.
“In Springfield, [Ohio], they are eating the dogs,” he said. “The people that came in, they are eating the cats. They’re eating – they are eating the pets of the people that live there.”
The pet-eating stories began circulating on social media this month; however, Springfield officials said they’ve yet to see evidence supporting these 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.
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