The false claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets

Gone quiet · last story Jul 30, 2026

What this arc covers

The false claims, spread by JD Vance and Donald Trump in September 2024, that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets: Trump's repetition of them in his debate with Kamala Harris, Ohio officials' statements that there was no evidence, the furor that brought state police to schools and canceled a festival, Vance's defense of the claims, the Springfield mayor's statement that his team had been told they were false, the criminal charges a Haitian group filed against Trump and Vance, and Trump's vow to revoke the migrants' protected status.

Earliest story we hold Sep 9, 2024 · 18 stories · 71 independent sources (counted once each) · 689 days

Part ofHaitiOhioDonald TrumpJD VanceMike DeWine

Part of The 2024 presidential election

  1. The 2024 presidential debates, from Biden vs. Trump to Harris vs. TrumpMar 6 – Oct 2, 2024
  2. The 2024 Republican convention in Milwaukee and Trump's pick of JD VanceJun 6 – Jul 20, 2024
  3. Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 race and Kamala Harris's nominationJun 27, 2024 – Aug 20, 2026
  4. The 2024 attempts on Trump's life in Butler and at his Florida golf clubJul 14, 2024 – Sep 24, 2026
  5. The 2024 general election campaign between Kamala Harris and Donald TrumpJul 22, 2024 – Jan 7, 2025
  6. The false claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating petsThis arcSep 9, 2024 – Jul 30, 2026
  7. Trump's second inauguration on January 20, 2025Dec 12, 2024 – Feb 20, 2026
  8. Kamala Harris after her 2024 loss, from her book to her 2028 decisionMar 7, 2025 – Sep 21, 2026
Show remaining 2 arcs
  1. The 2024 presidential primaries, from the Iowa caucuses to Haley's exitJan 1 – Jul 9, 2024
  2. The fight to keep Trump off the 2024 ballot under the 14th AmendmentJan 2 – Mar 4, 2024

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Jul 30– Aug 52026Ohio Haitians Lose Jobs, Face Terror — and Impossible Choices5 articles · 3 independent sources
1 left, 0 center, 0 right
Jul 29– 302026Ohio governor says no planned surge in immigration enforcement after end of TPS6 articles · 1 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 0 right
Jul 27– 292026Republican Ohio governor says Trump's plans to deport Haitians a 'mistake'8 articles · 8 independent sources
2 left, 2 center, 4 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Sep 10 – 11, 2024Ohio is sending troopers and $2.5 million to a city that has seen an influx of Haitian migrants10 articles · 9 independent sources
  2. Sep 11 – 13, 2024Trump falsely claims migrants in Ohio are eating pets51 articles · 23 independent sources
  3. Sep 19, 2024A news site that covers Haitian-Americans is facing harassment over its post-debate coverage of Ohio13 articles · 13 independent sources
  4. Sep 24 – 25, 2024Haitian group in Springfield, Ohio, files citizen criminal charges against Trump and Vance37 articles · 27 independent sources
  5. Feb 20 – 21, 2025Trump gets rid of Haitian immigration protection, affecting half a million people29 articles · 17 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Sep 2024Jan 2025Jun 2025Oct 2025Mar 2026Aug 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Sep 9, 20241016693
Sep 16, 2024214137
Sep 23, 202468443
Sep 30, 20241318
Oct 14, 20241204
Feb 17, 202535429
Jul 27, 202624418
Aug 3, 20261001

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

30% left · 49% center · 21% right of 71 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 18 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. September 2024

    Sep 9– 10JD Vance spreads debunked claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets9 articles · 8 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 0 right
  2. Sep 9– 10JD Vance repeats baseless claim Haitian immigrants are eating pets as Ohio officials say there is no evidence6 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
  3. Sep 10– 11Ohio is sending troopers and $2.5 million to a city that has seen an influx of Haitian migrants10 articles · 9 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 4 right
  4. Sep 11– 13Trump falsely claims migrants in Ohio are eating pets51 articles · 23 independent sources
    6 left, 7 center, 5 right
  5. Sep 15Vance defends spreading claims that Haitian migrants are eating pets7 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  6. Sep 15JD Vance repeats claims about Haitian immigrants in Ohio, says he has to 'create stories' to get media's attention9 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 0 right
  7. Sep 15– 20Vance’s team was told Haitian immigrant rumors were false before debate, Springfield mayor confirms10 articles · 7 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 0 right
  8. Sep 16Ohio town cancels cultural festival after furor over Haitians7 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  9. Sep 17Ohio state police to protect schools after furor over Haitian immigrants in Springfield9 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  10. Sep 19A news site that covers Haitian-Americans is facing harassment over its post-debate coverage of Ohio13 articles · 13 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 1 right
  11. Sep 24– 25Haitian group in Springfield, Ohio, files citizen criminal charges against Trump and Vance37 articles · 27 independent sources
    6 left, 7 center, 2 right
  12. Sep 25– 26Democrats try to censure Rep. Clay Higgins for slandering Haitians in social media post7 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 2 right

  13. October 2024

  14. Oct 16– 17Donald Trump turns back to claims of Haitian migrants eating pets6 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right

  15. February 2025

    Feb 20– 21Trump gets rid of Haitian immigration protection, affecting half a million people29 articles · 17 independent sources
    3 left, 5 center, 4 right

  16. July 2026

    Jul 27– 29Republican Ohio governor says Trump's plans to deport Haitians a 'mistake'8 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 4 right
  17. Jul 29– 30Ohio governor says no planned surge in immigration enforcement after end of TPS6 articles · 1 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  18. Jul 30– Aug 5Ohio Haitians Lose Jobs, Face Terror — and Impossible Choices5 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 0 right