During a recent presidential debate, former President Donald Trump reiterated a debunked and racist conspiracy theory that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating pets, a claim that has been denied by local officials and fact-checked by the debate moderator. Trump's running mate, JD Vance, supported the claims, which originated from unverified social media posts and a misrepresented incident involving an Ohio woman with no Haitian ties. Despite evidence to the contrary, Trump and Vance argued that the claims should be investigated, framing them within broader critiques of immigration policies. Trump faced backlash from voters across party lines, and his statements were widely criticized as fear-mongering and xenophobic. The controversy highlighted ongoing tensions around immigration and misinformation in political discourse.