Donald Trump said Saturday that Springfield, Ohio, has “been taken over by illegal migrants,” and that he doesn’t know about the bomb threats the town has been receiving since he and other Republicans spread false claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets there.
“I don’t know what happened with the bomb threats. I know that it’s been taken over by illegal migrants, and that’s a terrible thing that happened. Springfield was this beautiful town, and now they’re going through hell,” the former president told reporters as he dropped by the Las Vegas Police Protective Association.
Some context: The claim went viral a few weeks ago and has been promoted by prominent national-level Republicans, including Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Local officials have repeatedly tried to end the rumor, and the city has said there are no credible reports of animal abuse “by individuals within the immigrant community.”
As CNN reported, Springfield City Hall was forced to close due to a bomb threat on Thursday. Two elementary schools were also evacuated Friday “based on information received from the Springfield Police Division,” the city’s school district said.
Trump said Friday that the “real threat is what’s happening at our border” rather than the bomb threats in Springfield.
The city notes on its website that approximately 12,000 to 15,000 immigrants live in Clark County, and that Haitian immigrants are there legally as part of a parole program that allows citizens and lawful residents to apply to have their family members from Haiti come to the US.
