During the Presidential debate, Donald Trump repeated a ridiculous and malicious lie about Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. Even though the hateful rumor had already been debunked by city officials and traced to the swamps of the internet, Trump and his equally racist running mate J.D. Vance persisted.
During the debate, “eating pets,” “eating dogs,” and “run spot run” were trending on Twitter and inspired hilarious memes and jokes mocking Trump’s fantastical claims. However, I kept warning about the very real target that MAGA was putting on innocent Haitian communities that could result in threats of violence and stochastic terrorism.
Fast forward to Thursday.
The City Hall in Springfield, Ohio was closed by officials after a bomb threat was issued “to multiple agencies and media outlets.” Haitian community members are now reporting property damage and keeping their children at home to ensure their safety.
Yet again, the majority remains hijacked by an extremist political movement that needs the rest of us to suffer in order to feel great again.
I was lucky enough to talk to historian Kevin Kruse, a professor at Princeton, author of the excellent Campaign Trails substack (subscribe), and co-author of the book Myth America, about how Trump’s targeted attack on innocent Haitian immigrants ahead of the 2024 election is a deliberate strategy geared to stoke violence and represents a unique, dangerous threat to our country’s democracy and national security.
Grab a chai and give us a listen.
Hate Against Haitians: America's Dystopian Future Under a Trump Dynasty