Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has stood by debunked claims that immigrants in Ohio were eating pets, telling Latino voters during a town hall he was "just saying what was reported."
Trump in recent weeks has amplified a false claim that has gone viral that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing residents' pets or taking wildlife from parks for food.
There have been no credible reports of Haitians eating pets, and officials in Ohio - including Republicans - have repeatedly said the story is untrue.
At a town hall hosted by Univision, an undecided Latino Republican voter from Arizona, a battleground state, asked Trump whether he truly believed that immigrants were eating pets.
"I was just saying what was reported. All I do is report," Trump replied during the event held in Miami. "I was there, I'm going to be there and we're going to take a look."
Trump added that "newspapers" had also reported on the claim, without naming any or providing any details.
Earlier Trump called himself the "father of IVF" as he tried to convince the crucial voting bloc they can trust him on reproductive issues.
Trump, who is trailing Democrat Kamala Harris in popularity among women voters ahead of the US election, suggested he was eager to discuss the issue at an all-women event hosted by Fox News in Georgia. The state is among a handful likely to decide the election.
"I want to talk about IVF. I'm the father of IVF, so I want to hear this question," he said.
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During a town hall Wednesday, Trump doubled down on false claims Haitian migrants are eating pets, saying: "I was just saying what was reported." Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday doubled ...