What Was He (Trump) Even Talking About?

 

Trump’s outlandish claim about immigrants eating pets underscored his detachment from reality.

Among the many peculiar statements Donald Trump made during the debate, his remarks about pets were particularly jarring.

When asked why he opposed an immigration bill that aimed to boost the number of border guards, Trump’s answer was far from direct. He veered off topic, initially discussing his crowd sizes in response to a critique from Kamala Harris. After that digression, he touched on immigration—but in a confusing way.

“You’re going to end up in World War III, just to switch subjects,” he said. “Look at what’s happening to our country with these millions and millions of people coming in. Many towns are too embarrassed to talk about it—not Aurora or Springfield. They don’t want to address it because they’re so ashamed. In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The new arrivals are eating the cats. They’re consuming the pets of local residents. This is what’s happening in our country. It’s a disgrace.”

Trump never explained his opposition to the border bill and instead returned to discussing his rallies, leaving many viewers bewildered by his earlier statements.

For context, Trump’s assertion about Haitian immigrants eating pet cats in Springfield, Ohio, is unfounded. Recent Haitian arrivals have been credited with boosting the local economy, according to local officials. Debate moderator David Muir clarified that Springfield authorities and local police found no credible evidence of such incidents. Trump’s excuse—that he saw these claims on TV—seems questionable given his media savvy.

Despite the lack of evidence, conservative influencers have propagated these rumors to incite fear and hatred. As Ali Breland noted, these posts are offensive and dehumanizing but are often shared under a veneer of irony.

Trump’s running mate has also propagated these unfounded claims. J.D. Vance, eager to showcase his intelligence, recently admitted that there were no credible reports but continued to spread these falsehoods to draw attention to alleged immigrant harms. “Don’t let the media crybabies dissuade you, fellow patriots. Keep the cat memes flowing,” Vance urged. If politicians claim they must lie to reveal the truth, how can we ever trust them?