"Spewing lies": Harris condemns Trump's "hateful rhetoric" about Springfield
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Vice President Harris during a discussion hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia on Sept. 17. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Vice President Harris on Tuesday condemned former President Trump and Sen. JD Vance for their "hateful rhetoric" about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, and said they are "spewing lies ... grounded in tropes."
Why it matters: Harris' remarks — during her second nationally televised interview as the Democratic nominee — are her most extensive yet on the unfounded GOP-driven conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants eating pets in the Ohio town.
- "It's a crying shame. My heart breaks for this community," Harris said during a panel interview on Tuesday with the National Association of Black Journalists.
- "When you are bestowed with a microphone that big, there is a profound responsibility that comes with that," said Harris.
The big picture: Trump repeated the baseless conspiracy theory that has embroiled the Ohio town during the debate, after it had been circulating on social media via right-wing influencers.
- Springfield has seen bomb threats in recent days, including at elementary schools and at Wittenberg University. Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine said Monday that most of the threats have come from a foreign agent, but did not say which one.
- Springfield earlier this week said that it was cancelling its annual CultureFest to "prevent any potential risks to attendees, staff, vendors and volunteers."
- Local officials have emphasized that there are no credible reports of migrants eating pets.
- Trump has persisted in pushing the groundless rumors since the debate, posting a string of memes about it on Truth Social. Vance has also defended spreading the debunked claims, telling CNN's Dana Bash it's important to "create stories" to garner media attention.
What she's saying: "Regardless of someone's background, their race, their gender, their geographic location, I know that people are deeply troubled by what is happening to that community in Springfield, Ohio, and it's got to stop," Harris said.
- "And we've got to say that you cannot be entrusted with standing behind the seal of the President of the United States of America, engaging in that hateful rhetoric, that as usual, is designed to divide us as a country."
- The interview, which took place in Philadelphia, was moderated by Politico's Eugene Daniels, WHYY's Tonya Mosley, and theGrio's Gerren Gaynor.
The other side: "Kamala Harris is desperate to distract from the truth: what's going on in Springfield is her fault," Vance spokesman Luke Schroeder said in a statement.
- "Kamala shielded thousands of unvetted Haitian migrants from deportation, leading to housing shortages, strained public resources, higher crime, and lower wages for American citizens."
State of play: Trump also sat for an interview with members of NABJ in July, where he questioned Harris' racial identity, saying that the VP "became ... Black."
- Harris, who would be the first Black woman and South Asian woman to be president, has not made her race or gender a focal point of her campaign.
Go deeper: Inside Harris' strategy for shaping her personal story
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from a spokesperon for Sen. JD Vance.
