Donald Trump intended to spend the week targeting Kamala Harris’ perceived political weaknesses, but instead, his campaign was overshadowed by controversial and false claims.
Rather than focusing on immigration policies and attacking Harris’ track record, Trump found himself defending allegations that Haitian migrants in Ohio were eating pets, a claim that was widely discredited.
During campaign stops in Arizona and Nevada, Trump’s comments about the false rumors gained significant media attention, sidelining his speeches on the economy and immigration.
At a press conference in California, Trump promised “large deportations” from Springfield, Ohio, citing the town as a hotbed for alleged problems with Haitian immigrants—a narrative that Republicans, including Ohio Sen. JD Vance, have pushed, despite its baseless nature.
The Immigrant Parole Program in Springfield
Springfield, Ohio, home to around 12,000 to 15,000 immigrants, hosts Haitian migrants under a legal parole program. This initiative allows U.S. citizens and legal residents to apply for their family members to join them from Haiti.
Despite this, Trump continued to push inflammatory rhetoric, using terms like “nests of bad people” to describe undocumented migrants.
Referring to a Venezuelan gang in Aurora, Colorado, Trump pledged to begin a massive deportation campaign, starting with Springfield and Aurora.
Harris Targeted Over Border Security
Republicans have long seen immigration as a key issue, and Trump’s plan was to pin border security failures on Kamala Harris, whom the GOP has labeled President Biden’s “border czar.”
However, during a debate earlier in the week, Trump’s attacks on Harris took a bizarre turn, with unfounded accusations about migrants eating pets in Ohio.
President Joe Biden sharply rebuked Trump’s remarks, saying, “It’s simply wrong. And there’s no place in America for this.”
In the wake of these claims, Springfield’s city hall was shut down following a bomb threat, and two elementary schools were evacuated due to security concerns. Mayor Rob Rue urged national candidates, implicitly referring to Trump and Vance, to consider the consequences of their rhetoric, stating, “We need help, not hate.”
International Criticism and Republican Defenses
Even Pope Francis weighed in, criticizing Trump’s hardline stance on immigration while also denouncing Harris for her stance on abortion. “To send migrants away is something terrible, there is evil there. And to take a child from the womb of the mother is an assassination,” the Pope said.
Sen. JD Vance, while acknowledging the dubiousness of the rumors, still defended the conversation on immigration, tweeting, “Don’t let biased media shame you into not discussing this slow-moving humanitarian crisis.”
Vance implied that Harris was responsible for the situation, framing the discussion as part of a larger political struggle.
Trump’s Association with Laura Loomer
Trump also faced scrutiny over his association with far-right figure Laura Loomer, known for promoting conspiracy theories and racist remarks, including those aimed at Kamala Harris. Despite the controversy, Trump described Loomer as a “free spirit” and dismissed concerns about her role in spreading misinformation.
Harris Campaigns in Key Swing State Pennsylvania
While Trump campaigned out West, Kamala Harris focused on Pennsylvania, a key battleground state in the 2024 election. Polls showed that Harris performed better in a recent debate against Trump, with 63% of viewers favoring her over Trump’s 37%, according to a CNN poll.
Harris’ campaign strategy in Pennsylvania involved visiting counties that Trump had previously won, aiming to strengthen turnout in Democratic strongholds while minimizing her opponent’s influence in more conservative areas.
Her focus is on maximizing voter engagement, telling reporters, “We have to earn every vote, and that means spending time with folks where they live.”