Sunday Snapshot: Springfield mayor cautions that words can harm
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Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) speaks to reporters in the spin room following the presidential debate between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris at The National Constitution Center on Sept. 10 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) dominated the political show lineup with several appearances Sunday, where he again spoke on unfounded claims that Haitian immigrants are eating cats in Ohio — a controversy that has sparked rebuke from both sides of the aisle.
The mayor of Springfield also spoke about the rumors and the impact it's having on the town amid a rash of threats that have shut down city buildings and canceled school.
Here's what you may have missed when newsmakers hit the airwaves this Sunday, September 15.
1. Republican Ohio officials call for Springfield rumors to cease
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called Sunday for conspiracy theories about Haitian immigrants eating cats and dogs in the state to stop, emphasizing that migrants in Springfield are there legally and that there is no evidence they've been consuming family pets.
- "We need to focus on moving forward and not dogs and cats being eaten. It's just ridiculous," the Republican governor said on ABC's "This Week."
The big picture: The town has faced "three consecutive days of threats," Mayor Rob Rue told CNN Sunday.
- Threats to city buildings and schools have prompted evacuations.
- "It would be helpful if they understood the weight of their words and how they could harm a community like ours," Rue said when questioned by CNN's Dana Bash about Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) repeatedly amplifying the rumors despite threats to the town.
- "The light has been shined so brightly that it has caused people to not even see clearly. It's too bright," he added.
Zoom out: Springfield, which the 2020 Census recorded as having a population of 58,662 people, has seen an influx of migrants in recent years.
- According to the city's website, an estimated 12,000-15,000 immigrants live in Clark County.
The other side: Several Democratic officials criticized the GOP ticket for continuing to repeat the debunked claims, which Trump shared on the debate stage last week.
2. Vance: 'Learned my lesson' on speaking for Trump
Former President Trump has repeatedly muddied the water regarding exactly how he would tackle abortion if re-elected, and it appears his running mate discovered that the hard way.
Driving the news: Appearing on "Meet The Press" Sunday, Vance said he's "learned my lesson" about speaking for Trump before they've "talked about an issue."
- Vance previously stated in a late-August interview that Trump would veto a national abortion ban, only for the former president to say on the debate stage last week that he hasn't discussed the issue with his running mate.
- The GOP vice presidential candidate said he and Trump still haven't discussed a federal abortion ban because "it's not realistic."
- "I think that was the point that he made during the debate, is he's been incredibly clear that he doesn't support a national abortion ban. He wants abortion policy to be made by the states, because he thinks, look, Alabama is going to make a different decision from California, and that's okay. We're a big country. We can disagree," Vance said.
Between the lines: Trump's revolving positions on abortion have left some in the GOP scratching their heads but most agree that getting any sort of bill to pass through a gridlocked Senate is nearly impossible.
- Trump has consistently mentioned the unlikelihood of getting the Senate to pass a ban, as Republicans would lack the votes to overcome the filibuster.
- "A national abortion ban is not on the table," Vance said Sunday. "[Trump] wouldn't support it. He wouldn't – he wouldn't sign it. And I think ... it's kind of a ridiculous hypothetical, because if a national abortion ban was brought before the United States Senate right now, it would get – at best – 10 senators out of 100."
3. Loomer's comments aren't "an issue of national import"
Far-right media personality Laura Loomer, who accompanied Trump to last week's debate and a 9/11 memorial, lashed out at Harris in a racist attack last week, saying if the vice president won, the White House would "smell like curry."
Driving the news: Asked about Loomer's comments, Vance said the influencer is "not affiliated with the Trump campaign."
- He continued: "I make a mean chicken curry, and I don't think it's insulting for anybody to talk about the dietary preferences and what they want to do in the White House."
- Vance, whose wife is Indian-American, told NBC's Kristen Welker that while he didn't "like" Loomer's comments, he doesn't "think that this is actually an issue of national import."
- He continued: "Is Laura Loomer running for president? No, Kamala Harris is running for president."
Friction point: Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) — along with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has clashed with Loomer online — released a statement Saturday attempting to distance the right-wing influencer and her "offensive comments" from the campaign.
- Greene, a GOP firebrand known for stirring controversy, condemned Loomer's post targeting Harris as "appalling and extremely racist" in a Wednesday reply.
The bottom line: Trump allies have expressed concerns about Loomer's seeming closeness to the former president.
- Trump described Loomer as a "free spirit" and a "supporter" in a news conference Friday when pressed by CNN's Kristen Holmes.
- Later that day, he wrote on Truth Social, "Laura Loomer doesn't work for the Campaign."
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