During Tuesday’s presidential debate, Donald Trump repeated a baseless and sensationalist claim about Haitian immigrants in Ohio allegedly eating dogs and other pets. By Friday—just three days after the debate—bomb threats had led to the evacuation and closure of public schools and municipal buildings for a second consecutive day, leaving Springfield residents understandably fearful of violence and discrimination.
Despite evidence of increasing violence, the Republican presidential nominee has doubled down on his claims — supported by others such as Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, and billionaire Elon Musk — about Haitians, which his supporters have eagerly embraced in a bid to further demonize immigrants. “We’re going to have the largest deportation in the history of our country,” Trump insisted. “And we’re going to start with Springfield and Aurora.”
Although Trump has become associated with these claims, as if he invented them himself, he was merely the amplifier. Here’s a look at the extremist group taking credit for creating and disseminating this racist conspiracy.
The leader of the group Blood Tribe, Christopher Pohlhaus, celebrated on his Telegram channel on Wednesday, following the presidential debate between Trump and Kamala Harris. The neo-Nazi group had “pushed Springfield into the public consciousness,” Pohlhaus, known as “Hammer” to his followers, wrote on Telegram, according to NBC News.
“The president is talking...
New York (CNN) — Elon Musk is using his social media platform to promote misinformation about the presidential candidates in the lead up to the November election, amplifying false claims Wednesday ...