In an interview late Thursday, Springfield, Ohio, Mayor Rob Lue assured residents that their pets are safe and denied claims about Haitian immigrants made by former President Trump during a debate with Vice President Harris earlier this week.
“First of all, Springfield is still beautiful and the pets in Springfield, Ohio are safe, they're safe,” Lu said on NewsNation's “Cuomo” with Chris Cuomo.
Lu said Trump was amplifying false claims and “making the city look bad.”
“These allegations are completely false, and let me just say that we just haven't seen them reported,” Lew said of Trump's remarks.
During Tuesday's debate, Trump addressed a false claim made by his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), that immigrants were eating pets in Springfield.
“A lot of towns don't want to talk about it because they're so embarrassed. In Springfield, they eat dog,” Trump said.
Lu, local police and city officials all dismissed the allegations, saying no pet kidnappings have been reported.
“There's been a lot of buzz on the Internet, but that's not what we're seeing,” the mayor said. “It's a little frustrating.”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, also denied the allegations, saying the internet is “pretty crazy sometimes.”
Lu said the city of Springfield is facing “infrastructure strain” because of the influx of immigrants, and he said he has asked for help, such as translation services, to understand the needs of immigrants.
He also said people are choosing Springfield because of job opportunities and a housing boom.
“There's a lot of good things about Springfield,” he said, noting the cost of living and opportunities in the surrounding area.
Lu also said a “culture clash” is beginning to occur in Springfield as false claims about immigration are spread and amplified by presidential candidates.
“There's a culture clash, we see it, we recognize it, but it's just hitting us from every level, and our federal leaders who have been on the national stage have not helped solve this problem,” he said.
Springfield City Hall was evacuated Thursday after a bomb threat. City officials announced in an online post that City Hall was closed as a precaution after bomb threats were made at multiple Springfield properties.
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