During a Univision town hall in Florida, former President Donald Trump reiterated his unfounded claims about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. Speaking before undecided Latino voters, Trump once again suggested that Haitian migrants were responsible for eating their neighbors’ pets, despite these assertions being refuted by local officials across party lines. When questioned by an audience member, Trump defended his remarks, stating he was only “reporting what was said” in newspapers but failed to provide any credible sources. He went further, insinuating that the migrants were consuming other improper items without presenting evidence.
This misinformation has spread widely, with Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, also supporting the narrative. However, the story has been widely rejected by Ohio’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine and Springfield’s local leaders, including the mayor and police chief. The falsehoods have had real-world consequences, leading to anonymous threats against Springfield’s Haitian community and forcing local officials to cancel a planned cultural diversity event. DeWine, who called the rumor “a piece of garbage,” had to deploy state police to protect students in the community.
Immigration and Gun Control Debates
The Univision town hall also touched on other contentious issues. Trump faced tough questions from voters, including why he delayed taking action during the January 6 Capitol riot and how he justifies his stance against gun control, despite growing concerns about gun violence. While the former president acknowledged the questions, he refused to alter his positions, instead redirecting the conversation to his hardline immigration policies.
Throughout the event, Trump consistently pivoted from addressing these critical topics to launching attacks on undocumented immigrants. He touted his administration’s immigration policy, claiming that under his leadership, the U.S. had “the strongest border” in its history. However, when asked about his plans for mass deportation, Trump again avoided giving a direct answer, focusing instead on vilifying undocumented immigrants as “murderers, drug dealers, and terrorists.”
Trump also refused to engage with questions regarding the bipartisan border bill, which he fiercely opposed earlier this year. Despite support from conservative Republicans, Trump criticized the legislation as a “Death Wish” for the GOP, further complicating efforts to pass immigration reform.
Backlash and Future Prospects
Ahead of the town hall, the Harris-Walz campaign sought to counter Trump’s claims by highlighting the impact of his administration’s border policies. Several children who had been separated from their parents under Trump’s controversial immigration practices were featured at a Florida press event to contrast the former president’s stance with that of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris, who recently addressed similar issues in her own Univision town hall, has strongly condemned Trump’s remarks about Haitian migrants, accusing him of spreading falsehoods rooted in harmful stereotypes. She has labeled his statements as “lies grounded in tropes,” emphasizing that they have been widely discredited by authorities.
Despite the growing backlash, Trump has not retracted his statements. In fact, during the town hall, he announced his intention to visit Springfield, Ohio, to “see for himself” and promised to deliver a report after the visit. However, as of now, there have been no credible reports confirming any of the claims made by Trump about the Haitian migrant community, a fact echoed by local authorities who continue to push back against the misinformation.
