Ohio senator and vice presidential candidate JD Vance is doubling down on former President Donald Trump’s accusation of Haitians eating pets in the state. The comments, made by Trump during the last presidential debate, sparked outrage and concern within the Haitian community and have left many questioning the long-term impact of such rhetoric.
“They know us for cooking good food, but cats and dogs are definitely not on the menu,” shared Cliff St. Hubert, a producer for Haitian news broadcast Island TV. “It was jarring, but no surprise. This is who Trump is.”
St. Hubert also discussed how quickly misinformation spreads online, making it difficult for people to separate fact from fiction.
“Social media takes something from zero to 100 really quickly,” he explained. “If you’re not aware of what you’re digesting, it can be dangerous.”
During a CNN interview on Sept. 15, Vance stood by the former president’s remarks and emphasized the media’s dismissal of the issue until he and Trump mentioned pets.
“The evidence is the first-hand account of my constituents,” Vance said. “I’ve been trying to talk about the problems in Springfield for months. The American media totally ignored this stuff until Donald Trump and I started talking about cat memes. If I have to create stories so that the media pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do.”
But for many in the Haitian community, these comments are not just misleading — they’re dangerous. Guithele Ruiz-Nicolas, former president of the Haitian American Democratic Club in Broward County, has dedicated over 30 years to public service and advocacy for her community. She worries that this rhetoric is putting lives at risk.
“They are dehumanizing us,” she said. “People’s lives are at risk. You’re hearing about people being fired from jobs since this happened and students being bullied because of it.”
Tensions are on the rise in Springfield, Ohio following the remarks. While no injuries have been reported, bomb threats targeting schools, universities, and city buildings have raised alarms.
“Several schools were closed, and there’s a major concern that Haitian people will be hurt,” explained Ruiz-Nicolas.
When asked about the bomb threats, Trump maintained his position, offering little clarity on the issue.
“I don’t know what happened with the bomb threats,” he said. “I know it’s been taken over by illegal migrants, and that’s a terrible thing. Springfield was a beautiful town, and now they’re going through hell. It’s a sad thing. Not going to happen with me.”
Despite growing concerns, the Haitian community is not backing down. Ruiz-Nicolas and other community leaders have launched initiatives to push back against the narrative, raising money to put up billboards in South Florida to highlight their pride and contributions.
“We want the world to know that we’re Haitian and we’re proud,” Ruiz-Nicolas said.
St. Hubert shares that feeling, saying, “My community will survive. We’ve always survived.”
