A small town in the state of Ohio is currently struggling with the lies of presidential candidate Donald Trump. The American Republican claimed that migrants in Springfield stole and ate the residents’ pets. The consequences are now being felt.
There have already been dozens of bomb threats in the city following a conspiracy story spread by Donald Trump and US Republicans during the election campaign about migrants eating pets.
“We have received at least 33 separate bomb threats,” Ohio Governor and Trump associate Mike DeWine said at a news conference in Springfield on Monday (local time). So far, no threats have materialized.
“Some” came “from a specific country,” DeWine continued, without giving further details. “We think this is another opportunity to mess with the United States, and they continue to do that,” he said.
Trump railed against migrants in TV showdown
Springfield has been in the news since Republican Party officials shared false claims online about Haitian migrants stealing and eating pets in the small town, stoking fears about immigrants. Trump also spread the lie in the televised duel with his opponent Kamala Harris.
The White House warned that such rhetoric could endanger local populations. “This kind of disinformation is dangerous because there are going to be people who believe it, no matter how ridiculous and stupid it is,” said John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council.
DeWine says there is ‘evidence’ to support Trump’s claims:
Two schools in Springfield were also evacuated Monday, local media reported. According to the local ABC affiliate, there was also a threat against the state capitol building in Ohio’s capital, Columbus, home to the state House of Representatives and the state Senate. The threat included “derogatory comments about the Haitian population of Springfield,” the report said.
It was initially unclear whether this threat was also on DeWine’s most recent list. “Our children deserve to go to school,” the governor said at the news conference.
Police search schools for bombs
He also announced that 36 State Highway Patrol officers would be deployed throughout the city to provide additional security. Police would search the schools every morning, said DeWine, who is a Republican but has repeatedly refuted his party’s rumors.
Springfield, with a population of about 58,000, has seen an increase in the number of immigrants from Haiti in recent years. A local newspaper estimated their number at 10,000 to 15,000. The Caribbean nation of Haiti has been plagued by political chaos and gang violence for years, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, causing many people to flee.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
