Ohio governor slams attacks on Haitian migrants

J.D. Vance talks to reporters in Greenville, North Carolina

"If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that's what I'm going to do"

(Image credit: Allison Joyce / Getty Images)

By Peter Weber, The Week US

published 16 September 2024

What happened

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said on Sunday that recent Republican "garbage" about Haitian migrants eating pets in Springfield "needs to stop." Springfield Mayor Rob Rue (R) also criticized "federal politicians" who have "negatively spun" his Ohio city and its migrant residents. Sen. J.D. Vance (Ohio), Donald Trump's running mate, defended spreading the baseless "cat meat" rumors.

We known "the Haitians who are in Springfield are legal," they came to work, and they are "very good workers," DeWine said to ABC's "This Week." "Frankly, that's helped the economy," but thanks to the misinformation "there are hate groups coming into Springfield." The city is "caught in a political vortex," Rue told Politico. "We've had bomb threats the last two days. We've had personal threats the last two days, and it's increasing, because the national stage is swirling this up." Pets, he added, "are safe in Springfield."

Ohioans are "telling me that this happened," Vance said to CNN. But "if I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that's what I'm going to do because you guys are completely letting Kamala Harris coast." Following last week's grade school evacuations and hospital lockdowns, Springfield's Wittenberg University and Clark State College canceled in-person classes this week due to threats of violence.

"We talk about abortion, we lose. We talk about immigration, we win," a Trump adviser said to Marc Caputo at The Bulwark. If that takes spreading baseless incendiary stories, "we'll take the hit to prove the bigger point." While the campaign is "not displeased" by the criticism, Caputo said, it's gambling the "pet-eating story becomes centered on immigration," not "the GOP ticket whipping up fear with exaggerations and fabrications."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.