How a fringe online claim about immigrants eating pets made its way to the debate stage

On Tuesday night, Donald Trump made a racially charged and unsubstantiated claim during a televised debate, alleging that people in Springfield, Ohio were eating dogs, cats, and pets due to an influx of Haitian immigrants. This false rumor had been circulating online and was amplified by Trump’s allies, including Senator JD Vance. While some close to Trump defended his decision to bring up the issue, others criticized the execution and suggested that there are more pressing immigration issues to focus on. The roots of this moment lie in long-standing grievances around immigration and border security that have defined Trump and his supporters, as well as the influence of right-wing social media in spreading misinformation. Despite pushback and fact-checking from officials, Trump continued to promote the false claims on social media and during the debate. The fallout from this incident has sparked confusion and outrage, with some pointing fingers at Trump and his allies for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and misinformation.