Donald Trumps running mate J.D. Vance was pressed on the ex-presidents dubious claims that migrants in an Ohio town are cooking pets and wild geese.
Migrants are eating the cats, Trump said during the first presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. They are eating the dogs.
The questionable claims originate from a story out of Ohio where reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldnt be in this country, Vance posted on X this week.
The VP hopeful later walked back his claims in a following post, saying Its possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false.
But that did not stop Trump from talking about it onstage during his debate with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance speaks to members of the media following the presidential debate between former US President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in the debates press file in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Trump just amplified it to tens of millions of people, CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins pushed Vance after the debate in an interview. Why push something thats not true?
Vance said that the campaign has been contacted by some people on the ground who have given accounts that confirm migrants suspicious diets.
He confirmed that they have gotten both first-hand and second-hand reports saying this stuff is happening.
He then took an apparent jab at Collins.
I think its actually important for journalists to get on the ground and cover this for themselves, the Republican said.
When you have a lot of people saying my pets are being abducted or geese at the city pond are being abducted and slaughtered right in front of us. This is crazy stuff, Vance continued.
Whether those exact rumors turn out to be mostly true, somewhat true, whatever the case may be, Kaitlan, this town has been ravaged.
Collins responded: Senator, if someone calls your office and says theyve seen Big Foot, it doesnt actually mean theyve seen Big Foot.
When she sparred for more evidence of Ohio residents hunting geese or pets and then cooking them, Vance did not provide any further details.
He did, however, credit the story, which has generated many AI images online of Trump posing as a guardian or protector of the furry and feathred animals, with raising awareness about immigration issues.
The media didnt care about the carnage brought by these [immigration] policies until we turned it into a meme about cats, Vance said.
An AI-generated Trump hugs a duck and cat
It all started after an Ohio man made wild and unsubstantiated claims that illegal migrants from Haiti are eating pets and wild birds.
The viral posts started after a Springfield, Ohio, resident claimed to have seen Haitian migrants decapitating ducks in public parks and eating them.
The Ohio man stood up to address the issue during a city commission meeting last month to address the influx of legal Haitian immigrants.
I really challenge you guys to get out here and do something, he told the meeting.
These Haitians are running into trash cans, running into buildings... theyre flipping cars in the middle of the streets...
Reports of migrants eating animals like ducks remain unconfirmed.
Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio, Vance posted on X Monday alongside a video of him previously speaking about the crisis facing the town.
Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldnt be in this country, he added mentioning the grisly accounts.
Where is our border czar? the post continued.
In the attached video Vance reads a document describing how the town is managing the Haitian migrant population.
Springfield has seen a surge in population through immigration that has significantly impacted our ability as a community to produce enough housing opportunities for all, the Republican read at a Senate hearing.
Springfields Haitian community has increased 15,000 to 20,00 over the last four years in a community of under 60,00 previous residents.
He later cleaned up those remarks though.
On Tuesday morning, Vance posted on X: In the last several weeks, my office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield whove said their neighbors pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants. Its possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false.
Another AI-generated image shows Trump holding a cat and a duck at a campaign rally
Another AI image shows the former president wielding a sword and armor behind his animal friends
Another picture shows Trump rescuing a chubby cat from a fire
But that did not stop users from enjoying the silly trend.
Cats lives matter. Ducks lives matter. Vote for Trump to save them, one user on X posted alongside an image with Trump holding a duck and cat while draped in a red cape.
Today’s finds in a certain political corner of X: memes of Trump saving cats and ducks from Haitian migrants, conservative commentator Marina Medvin posted on X.
I normally find Trump memes annoying but these are well done, her post continued.
Another user on the platform posted an AI-generated image of Trump sporting armor and a sword: Dont worry, America. Donald Trump is coming to end Kamalas border policies and defend your cats and ducks.
But not all the AI-generated creations went to plan.
One image did not go to plan and showed duck-like animals with cat-like heads
One user even generated a cat wearing a MAGA hat
I asked AI to make a picture of Trump saving the kittens and ducks and this is what I got, a user posted alongside an image showing duck-like animals with the heads of cats.
Safe to say we still got some time before AI takes over, they added.