The Republican vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance, has admitted that his claim of Haitian migrants eating pets cannot be substantiated.
He acknowledged the falsehood after appearing on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.
Vance explained the rationale behind the fabrication, saying there was a need “to create stories so that the media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people.”
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When asked by CNN host Dana Bash whether the false rumors centered on Springfield, Ohio, were “a story that you created,” Vance responded, “Yes.” He added that the claims were based on “accounts from constituents” and that both he and the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, had spoken publicly about them to highlight Springfield’s large Haitian population.
Vance’s comments drew swift criticism from US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Democrat supporting his party’s White House nominee, Kamala Harris. Buttigieg responded on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Remarkable confession by JD Vance when he said he will ‘create stories’ (that is, lie) to redirect the media… all to change the subject away from abortion rights, manufacturing jobs, taxation of the rich, and other issues at stake in this election.”
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Vance also referred to Springfield’s Haitian community as “illegal,” despite most of them being in the US legally through Temporary Protected Status (TPS), granted due to violence and unrest in Haiti. TPS must be renewed every 18 months.
The rumors in Springfield have incited bomb threats aimed at local hospitals and government offices. Vance told Bash it was “disgusting” for the media to imply that his remarks contributed to the threats. He criticized the media again during a separate appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, accusing it of “amplifying the worst people in the world” by reporting on the threats.
Vance defended the lies about Springfield, claiming they brought attention to immigration policies under Kamala Harris’s vice presidency. “I’m not mad at Haitian migrants for wanting a better life,” Vance said. “We’re angry at Kamala Harris for letting this happen.”
Haitians in Springfield were thrust into the political spotlight after Trump falsely claimed during a debate with Harris that some were responsible for abducting and eating pets. Local officials have strongly denied the accusations, and a woman who initially spread the rumors via Facebook has since admitted they were unfounded hearsay. Nevertheless, the town has become a target of far-right conspiracy theories.
About 15,000 immigrants began arriving in Springfield, a city of roughly 60,000 in 2017 to work in local produce packaging and automotive machining factories. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, defended the Haitian workers, stating on ABC’s This Week, “They are here legally… They are working hard, and they’re fitting in.”
Despite this, Republicans, vulnerable on reproductive rights, have capitalized on xenophobic rumors in Springfield to appeal to voter dissatisfaction with Democratic immigration policies.
Vance also distanced himself from another controversy on Meet the Press, disapproving of far-right Trump campaign ally Laura Loomer’s remark that the White House would “smell like curry” if Harris won the election.
Harris is of Indian and Jamaican heritage, and Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, is of Indian descent as well. “I make a mean chicken curry,” Vance quipped, but added, “We should be focused on the policy and on the issues, not dietary preferences.”
Since becoming a vice-presidential candidate, Vance has repeatedly defended controversial views, including his belief that women who pursue professional careers instead of family roles are unhappy.
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