Trump and Vance's pet-eating claims pose dilemma for endangered House Republicans
NEW YORK — One New York House Republican has spread a viral but false claim about migrants eating pets. His neighbor, another vulnerable GOP freshman, has rejected it.
Now, both want to move on — but Donald Trump, JD Vance and mountains of memes stand in their way.
New York Rep. Marc Molinaro last week gave oxygen to the debunked rumor that Haitian newcomers to Springfield, Ohio, abduct and eat cats and dogs — posting it to X, Instagram and Facebook as one of a multitude of attacks meant to challenge his Democratic rival’s commitment to border security.
Two congressional districts to the south, Rep. Mike Lawler, whose constituency includes a sizable Haitian American population, released a statement urging his fellow Republicans to refrain from circulating unsubstantiated rumors. It was attributed to a spokesperson and blamed no one by name.
Both staked out their positions before the presidential debate, but neither can escape it now that Trump has thrust the racist trope into the national spotlight by musing about it onstage. His running mate, Vance, continues to defend it, telling CNN he’s been able to “create” a media focus on how immigration can overwhelm communities. And MAGA social media accounts are still circulating AI-generated art of Trump rescuing and embracing kittens and ducks.
There have been real-world implications for Springfield, including bomb threats that have closed schools and disrupted life there.
Molinaro and Lawler are battling for reelection in two of the country’s most competitive House races — and two of the six in New York that will help determine which party controls the narrowly divided chamber next year. Their divergent approaches reflect the challenging landscape that swing-district Republicans across the country must now navigate as Trump and Vance push the false narrative. The differences in their handling of the claim also speak to some of the contrasts in their campaigns.
Lawler is facing a Black challenger in former Rep. Mondaire Jones. And he's confronting the reality that some of his Haitian American constituents believe Trump and Vance are targeting them simply because they’re Black immigrants.
“We didn’t come to the United States looking for racist people to keep insulting us,” said Renold Julien, the leader of a community center aiding Haitians in Lawler’s district. “We come here to make a living. We come here because we have been forced out of our country.”
The painful and dangerous claim has spread like wildfire via TikTok, other social media memes and audio remixes thanks to Trump’s debate remarks.
“In Springfield, they’re eating dogs, the people that came in. They’re eating the cats,” Trump told the voting public as Vice President Kamala Harris shook her head incredulously at their recent debate.
Earlier that day, Molinaro posted a screenshot from Springfield featuring a Black man holding a goose and an accompanying message about a killed cat. He stood firmly by it on X after his Democratic opponent, Josh Riley, demanded he apologize.
In an interview, Molinaro then turned every question about his posts into a volley of attacks alleging Riley would surrender the southern border to criminals.
When pressed by POLITICO about it, the vulnerable Republican argued the Springfield claim is based in some truth about some Black immigrant cultures.
“Google Manlius,” Molinaro said, a reference to a popular swan that, according to police, was stolen, killed and eaten last year. “Listen, there are desperate people in the world who were allowed into this country with no capacity to support themselves.”
While his line of rhetoric has been challenged as racist, Molinaro’s focus on the broader migrant issue is not surprising. In the mid-Hudson Valley’s heated rematch, border security has emerged as a central theme.
Riley has hit Molinaro for his opposition to the bipartisan border bill, which died in the Senate — in large part due to Trump’s opposition to it. Molinaro has in turn attacked Riley’s work as a Senate attorney challenging Trump’s border policy. And both have blasted President Joe Biden and spotlighted migrant crime.
In an interview with POLITICO, Riley was similarly intent on focusing on the border, arguing he would work toward a solution and saying Molinaro is lying about his record.
“It’s beneath the office to pedal and traffic in dangerous and racist conspiracy theories,” the Democrat said. “We have real, big, serious challenges that we need to solve.”
Trump and Vance’s continued promotion of the pet-eating claim is harder to pivot away from in Lawler’s lower Hudson Valley district, where support from Haitian New Yorkers could mean the difference between winning and losing in what’s expected to be a tight race.
After Molinaro’s posts, but before the debate, Lawler’s office issued a mild rebuke — and perhaps the only one from a House Republican.
“He encourages his colleagues to exercise great restraint when spreading unfounded theories and claims based off of posts on Facebook,” Lawler’s spokesperson Nate Soule said in a statement.
Lawler declined POLITICO’s request for an interview. His campaign said his statement was not aimed at Molinaro.
Jones, meanwhile, told POLITICO that the Springfield claim is “gross” and “racist.”
“It’s sadly par for the course in Republican politics,” he said in an interview.
It’s also offensive to Haitian Americans in the district, “a community that Mike Lawler purports to be trying to make inroads in — for political purposes anyway,” Jones said.
Jones hosted a news conference Tuesday with leaders of Haitian descent to condemn Republican rhetoric.
Julien, the director of the Konbit Neg Lakay community center, told POLITICO he reached out and initiated the event because he had not heard from officials of either party since the Springfield claim went viral.
“It is a reminder that politically, Haitians in the United States, we don’t really have a lot of friends,” Julien said. “But it is not about Republican or Democrat, the thing is you’re talking about humanity.”
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
Topics
-
The Guardian - World
Trump bemoans lack of support from Jewish voters and blames ‘Democrat curse’
In disjointed Washington speech, nominee tells audience low numbers are because of ‘the Democrat curse on you’. Donald Trump has complained bitterly to Jewish donors that a majority of Jews vote ...35 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Harris: ‘If somebody breaks into my house, they’re getting shot’ during event with Oprah
Vice President Harris said that if someone were to break into her house, they would get shot while talking with Oprah Winfrey about hot-button issues during a Thursday night campaign event. “If ...46 minutes ago -
NBC News - Politics
Polish American voters seen as key to winning by both Harris and Trump
Polish American voters are having a moment.2 hours ago - Donald Trump -
NBC News - Politics
Trump's tax reversal punctuates a flurry of freebies defining the 2024 election
As president, Donald Trump slashed a lucrative tax break enjoyed by coastal donors and suburban swing-state voters. Now, he's promising to give back the deduction — if only they will put him back ...5 hours ago - Donald Trump -
NBC News - Politics
Security video near Trump golf course seized after apparent assassination attempt
FBI agents and sheriff’s deputies responded to businesses near Trump International Golf Club in Florida to seize security video within two hours of a Secret Service agent’s firing at a suspected ...7 hours ago - Donald Trump -
CBS News - Politics
Zelenskyy poised to meet with Biden, Harris and Trump next week
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to be among just a small handful of global political leaders to meet with both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump next week.9 hours ago - Donald Trump -
CBS News - Politics
Iranian hackers sent stolen Trump campaign info to Biden campaign associates
Iranian hackers sought to interest President Biden's campaign in information stolen from the campaign of former President Donald Trump, the FBI and other federal agencies said.Yesterday - Joe Biden -
CBS News - Politics
Trump security bolstered following apparent assassination attempt
In the wake of the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the Secret Service said Trump is now receiving the highest level of protection offered by the agency, the same ...Yesterday - Donald Trump -
CBS News - Politics
Trump says inflation has cost households $28,000. Is that true?
Economists told CBS News the calculation is incomplete, since average household incomes have also risen over that time period.Yesterday - Donald Trump -
Politico - Politics
House GOP opposition tanks Johnson’s short-term funding plan
Ahead of the vote, former President Donald Trump re-upped his demand that Republicans use a government shutdown threat to ding Democrats on a measure requiring proof of citizenship for registered ...Yesterday -
Politico - Politics
Secret Service tells House task force that agency has increased Trump’s security
Yesterday -
Politico - Politics
Hours before vote, Trump again presses House GOP on short-term spending bill
Yesterday - Donald Trump -
CBS News - Politics
Trump and Harris' views on inflation — their records and what they've said
Inflation is a top issue for voters heading into 2024 presidential election. Here's what we know about Harris and Trump's views on combating high prices for Americans.Yesterday - Donald Trump -
CBS News - Politics
House rejects GOP plan to fund government as deadline nears
The legislation, which would fund the government for about six months and require proof of citizenship to register to vote, fell short.Yesterday -
Politico - Politics
Passage prospects dim as Johnson’s spending plan heads to House floor
Yesterday -
CBS News - Politics
Trump, Harris hit campaign trails after alleged assassination attempt
Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, continue to blame Democrats for the alleged attempt on the former president's life, despite continued heightened rhetoric from ...2 days ago - Donald Trump -
CBS News - Politics
Trump makes first campaign appearance since apparent assassination attempt
Trump supporters said they feel safe attending his campaign rally in Michigan.2 days ago - Donald Trump -
Politico - Politics
Andy Harris wins House Freedom Caucus chairmanship
2 days ago -
CBS News - Politics
New details emerge about alleged attempted Trump assassination suspect
The man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his golf course on Sunday said in a self-published book he had previously voted for Trump, but called him "idiot," ...2 days ago - Donald Trump -
Politico - Politics
House passes $3B veterans funding patch as Republicans scoff at massive VA shortfall
2 days ago - Republican Party -
Politico - Politics
House lawmakers demand Secret Service briefing on 2nd Trump assassination attempt
The top lawmakers on the panel investigating the July shooting requested a briefing with the Secret Service this week over what authorities said was another “attempted assassination.”4 days ago - Donald Trump -
NBC News - Politics
Far-right activist Laura Loomer's access to Trump reveals a crisis in his campaign
No one can keep former President Donald Trump away from Laura Loomer.6 days ago - Donald Trump -
Politico - Politics
Congress to get Super Bowl-level protection on Jan. 6, 2025
DHS designates the certification of the 2024 election a "national special security event" to prevent a repeat of the Capitol riot.September 11 -
Politico - Politics
Joe Wilson hospitalized after medical emergency
His office confirmed he's being evaluated at a local Washington hospital.September 10
More from Politico
-
Politico - Politics
House GOP opposition tanks Johnson’s short-term funding plan
Ahead of the vote, former President Donald Trump re-upped his demand that Republicans use a government shutdown threat to ding Democrats on a measure requiring proof of citizenship for registered ...Yesterday -
Politico - Politics
Secret Service tells House task force that agency has increased Trump’s security
Yesterday -
Politico - Politics
Hours before vote, Trump again presses House GOP on short-term spending bill
Yesterday - Donald Trump -
Politico - Politics
Johnson dodges on government shutdown if spending bill fails
Yesterday -
Politico - Politics
Passage prospects dim as Johnson’s spending plan heads to House floor
Yesterday