Trump falsely claims Haitian immigrants in Springfield Ohio are eating the dogs and cats

At the September 10, 2024 presidential debate in Philadelphia, former President Donald Trump tells moderator David Muir and a national television audience: "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in, they're eating the cats, they're eating, they're eating the pets of the people that live there." The claim is false. Springfield city officials, the city manager, and police department confirm they have received no credible reports of immigrants harming pets. Debate moderator David Muir fact-checks the claim on air. The rumor originated from a single Facebook post. JD Vance had amplified similar claims on X before the debate. Within two weeks of Trump and Vance repeatedly amplifying the false claim on national media, Springfield receives 33 bomb threats against schools, government buildings, and institutions. Public schools close. City services are disrupted. Springfield city officials attribute the threats to Trump and Vance's rhetoric. PolitiFact names Trump and Vance's Springfield/Haitian claims its 2024 Lie of the Year. Newsweek reports Haitian community organizations file a lawsuit against Trump and Vance for "unrelenting lies" that caused measurable harm.