Unverified reports about animals in Ohio and Laura Loomer's involvement inadvertently disrupted Trump's planned offensive strategies against Harris.
Trump's repetitive spread of unsubstantiated rumors about Haitian migrants in Ohio allegedly consuming pets grabbed headlines during a tour in the western states, including stops in Arizona and Nevada, this week. This misinformation overshadowed a series of economic speeches and accusations towards Vice President Harris for border security failures.
During a press conference in California on Friday, Trump declared plans for "mass deportations" from Springfield, Ohio, the city that has become a political hotspot due to Republican figures, including Trump himself and Ohio Senator JD Vance, propagating fabricated claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets.
The city of Springfield's website indicates that between 12,000 to 15,000 immigrants reside in Clark County, with Haitian immigrants being legally present as part of a program permitting U.S. citizens and residents to sponsor their family members from Haiti.
During his speech, Trump also singled out a Venezuelan gang in Aurora, Colorado. He continued to employ derogatory language toward undocumented immigrants, labeling them as "nests of bad people" being relocated to the U.S.
"It's like an invasion from within, and we're going to carry out the largest deportation in U.S. history. We'll initiate it in Springfield and Aurora," Trump stated.
"The people of Ohio are terrified," he added. "It will worsen. It's going to become so bad. You know what we're currently experiencing is they're just getting settled in."
Why Trump targets Harris on immigration
Republicans generally view immigration and border security as a significant political issue and a tool to criticize Harris, who they have branded as Joe Biden's "border czar". This title derives from Biden's decision in 2021 to entrust Diplomatic talks with El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to Harris to address the root causes that caused their citizens to attempt migration to the U.S.
At the Tuesday debate, Trump's attacks on Harris related to immigration grew increasingly extreme, as he erroneously claimed that migrants in Springfield were eating pets.
Trump's remarks faced strong criticism from Biden.
"This is simply wrong. There's no place in America for what he's doing – it has to stop," Biden said during a Black Excellence brunch at the White House on Friday.
The Springfield city hall was forced to shut down due to a bomb threat on Thursday. Two elementary schools evacuated in Springfield on Friday due to a threat alert issued by the Springfield Police Division.
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue urged national politicians, including Trump and Vance, to be mindful of their words in a statement on Thursday night, expressing the need for support instead of hatred.
Trump dismissed these concerns on Friday.
"No, no – the real threat is at our border," he said.
Pope Francis denounced Trump's stance on immigration on Friday while also criticizing Harris for her advocacy of abortion rights.
"Leaving migrants anywhere, sending them away... it's an atrocity. Killing a child in the womb is assassination – there's life there. We need to talk openly about these things," the pope stated.
Vance, Trump's running mate, argued that Trump's statements sparked debate on immigration, even acknowledging the factual weaknesses of the rumors that ignited the controversy.
Vance shared on Tuesday, "It's actually possible that all these rumors turn out to be false." But the veracity of the allegations did not appear to be his primary concern.
"Don't let biased media pressure you into not discussing this humanitarian crisis in a small Ohio town every single day. We must talk about it," Vance posted on Twitter on Friday.
Trump praises Loomer as a "free spirit"
The controversy surrounding pets and animals being eaten in Ohio was not the only questionable moment from this week that placed focus on Trump's campaign.
Trump associates with far-right agitator Laura Loomer, who has propagated conspiracy theories about 9/11 and made racist comments against Harris on social media.
Trump described Loomer as a "free spirit" and "supporter" on Friday.
"She's a firm person. She has passionate opinions, and I don't know what she said, but it's not my responsibility. She's supporting us," Trump said.
Democratic National Committee rapid response director Alex Floyd condemned Trump's association with controversial allies such as Loomer on Friday, stating that those surrounding Trump are "as professional as you'd expect for a convicted fraudster."
Harris campaigns in Pennsylvania
Trump and Harris headed back on the campaign trail after the Tuesday debate, which had 63% of viewers declaring Harris the winner over Trump's 37%, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS.
Trump's Western tour followed Harris' campaign events in Pennsylvania – the most significant battleground in the 2024 election, with 19 electoral votes at stake.
The collective expenditure on television ads in the commonwealth has reached $175 million, with the Democrats shelling out over $93 million and the Republicans contributing about $81 million, as per AdImpact's data. Moreover, an additional $136 million is planned to be invested, with the Democrats accounting for $77 million and the Republicans contributing $59 million, from Saturday until Election Day. This amount surpasses the amount spent or reserved in any other state.
Harris needs a robust turnout from Democratic strongholds like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, while simultaneously trying to decrease Trump's advantage in the Republican areas of the state. Her visit on Friday was concentrated on two counties, Cambria and Luzerne, which Trump emerged victorious in during both his Presidential terms.
"I genuinely believe we must win each vote, and that means engaging with the community where they reside. That's why I'm here. We're going to dedicate more time to Pennsylvania," Harris stated to the press at a bookstore in Johnstown on Friday.
CNN reporters Kit Maher, Betsy Klein, Ebony Davis, and Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.
The ongoing debates about immigration and border security in the United States have deeply entwined politics and society, with figures like Trump using inflammatory language against undocumented immigrants and specific groups, such as his recent criticism of a Venezuelan gang in Aurora, Colorado.
The political atmosphere surrounding immigration has led to intense scrutiny and divisive conversations, with Trump's rhetoric often sparking controversy and criticisms, such as his false claims about Haitian migrants consuming pets in Springfield, Ohio.
