Donald Trump renewed his attacks against migrants living in Springfield, Ohio, despite a plea from the city’s Republican mayor urging an end to the rhetoric.
Speaking at a rally in Indiana, Pennsylvania, on Monday, the former president made an apparent reference to the Haitian migrants living legally in Springfield by suggesting they have “destroyed” the city and that “you have to get them out.”
Trump made the remarks hours after Springfield Mayor Rob Rue told MSNBC that he is “surprised” that Trump and his 2024 running mate JD Vance are continuing to double down on pushing the debunked claim that the Haitian population in Springfield has been eating pet cats and dogs.
“But they’re campaigning and they’re making decisions in the moment,” Rue said. “We’ve asked before, we’ll continue to ask, we need help, not hate. We need peace, and asking the leaders of the national stage to speak well of our city and to understand the way their words and the impact that it has had on our city.”
Ever since Trump repeated the false claim that migrants are eating people’s pets in Springfield during the ABC presidential debate with Kamala Harris, the city has faced bomb and shooting threats which has forced the closure of schools and events.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on September 23, 2024, in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Trump has been criticized for his renewed attacks against migrants living in Springfield, Ohio.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
During his Pennsylvania rally, Trump described how many towns have been “inundated” with migrants, “changing them forever.” Trump asked the crowd if he thinks Springfield “will ever be the same” again.
“The fact is—and I’ll say it now—you have to get them the hell out. You have to get them out. I’m sorry. But get them out. Can’t have it. They’ve destroyed it,” Trump said, prompting chants of “send them back” from the crowd.
Trump has been widely criticized on social media for his attacks on the Haitian population at the rally.
In response, a Trump spokesperson told Newsweek: “President Trump is rightfully highlighting the failed immigration system that Kamala Harris has overseen, bringing thousands of illegal immigrants pouring into communities like Springfield and many others across the country. President Trump will secure our border and put a stop to this chaos.”
Liberal commentator and former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan wrote while sharing a clip of the comments on X (formerly Twitter): “Trump calling for the ethnic cleansing of legal immigrants in the United States.”
Former Pentagon special counsel Ryan Goodman posted: “This call and response at Trump rally marks a new level in racial hatred. The Haitians are here legally. The rally cries comes after GOP Governor of Ohio, GOP Mayor of Springfield and town’s business leaders said the Haitians are vital to their growing economy and community.”
Luis Moreno, former United States ambassador to Jamaica, added: “You get tired of saying it, and people don’t want to hear it. But this is just straight up Nazi stuff.”
During his MSNBC interview, Rue appeared to suggest that he does not plan on voting for Trump in November’s election.
“I am a nonpartisan mayor, and I’m going to exercise that right to represent my community in a nonpartisan way right now,” Rue said.
In a recent opinion piece for The New York Times, Ohio’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine strongly condemned Trump and Vance for pushing the false claim that members of the state’s Haitian population were eating people’s cats and dogs.
“As a supporter of former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance, I am saddened by how they and others continue to repeat claims that lack evidence and disparage the legal migrants living in Springfield,” DeWine wrote.
“This rhetoric hurts the city and its people, and it hurts those who have spent their lives there.”
