This blog post was written for a course focused on misinformation and how it spreads. The assignment asks us to analyze a claim we’ve come across and explain how we determine whether it’s reliable. This process is more than just checking if something is true or false. It’s about building the habit of asking questions, especially when a claim seems suspicious. In a time when false information can influence real opinions and actions, developing strong media literacy is not just helpful. It’s necessary. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t include my own list of citations found below.

The claim I have chosen to examine is one that struck a nerve. During the 2024 presidential debate, President Donald Trump alleged that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were consuming local pets, stating: “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the …they’re eating the pets of the people that live there… and this is what’s happening in our country and it’s a shame.”¹ As someone who is both Haitian and American, this was deeply frustrating and offensive. It wasn’t just a personal insult. There were consequences to what he alleged. Trump’s rhetoric had people believing him.

Since then, Haitian Americans have had to deal with the fallout. Communities have faced bomb threats, and police have been sent to schools in response to safety concerns. Life for many Haitian immigrants, especially in places like Ohio, has become tense and uncertain again. What he said didn’t just stir outrage. It put real people at risk.²

What bothered me most was not just the claim itself, but how quickly people believed it. That made me wonder, why is it so easy for people to accept the worst about Haitians? The answer didn’t just start with that debate. It goes deeper. Haiti is the first Black republic and the second independent country in the Western Hemisphere³, having won its freedom in 1804 through a successful slave revolt. Since then, the country has paid a high price for its independence. The United States, along with France, punished Haiti economically, diplomatically, and socially, enforcing debt and isolation that still affect the nation today. These deep-rooted biases did not disappear. They evolved, shaping how Haitians are viewed and treated in the media and beyond. That kind of history doesn’t just vanish. It lingers in the background of every headline, debate, and dangerous stereotype.⁴

Let’s dive deeper.

Step 1: Finding the Original Source

I quickly found that the original source was an obscure Facebook post in a private group. However, for the purpose of this post and to stay focused on my reasoning, I chose to concentrate on the prominent public figures who gave this rhetoric credibility. Their influence was strong enough that it led to bomb threats at schools in Ohio.² So I started by looking for the full debate transcript and news coverage of the quote. Several reliable outlets confirmed what Trump said, including ABC7 and BBC News. None of them found any evidence that supported his claim.

Step 2: Checking Fact-Checking Websites

Next, I searched sites like Snopes, PolitiFact, and FactCheck.org to see if they had reviewed Trump’s statement. While I didn’t find a direct breakdown on every site, multiple articles labeled the claim as false or misleading. They also pointed out there was no evidence of Haitian immigrants eating pets in Springfield or anywhere else.

Step 3: Looking Into Who Shared the Claim

After the debate, I noticed the claim being repeated by high-profile figures like J.D. Vance, Charlie Kirk, and Elon Musk, along with official Republican media accounts like the House Judiciary Committee’s X page. These are influential voices, but none of them provided any proof, just posts that amplified the original quote without evidence.⁵

Step 4: Searching for Local Evidence

I looked for any reports from local news outlets in Springfield or statements from law enforcement or community leaders. None of them reported any incidents involving Haitian immigrants eating pets. In fact, several officials publicly denied the claim and called it misinformation.⁵

Step 5: Reviewing Viral Videos and Images

I also looked into videos and photos being shared to support the claim. One video showing an alleged Haitian woman getting arrested for eating a cat was circulated numerous times, but fact-checkers confirmed it had nothing to do with Haitian immigrants as the woman wasn’t even Haitian as well as her being a Canton, OH native. It was misused to push a false narrative.

Additionally, AI-generated images of Donald Trump hugging a duck and a kitten, captioned “Protect our ducks and kittens in Ohio,” were circulated by prominent figures and official accounts, including the Republican House Judiciary Committee’s X account. These images were designed to evoke emotional responses and reinforce the unfounded claims.

If you don’t believe me just listen to JD Vance when questioned about this:

“If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do.“

— Senator JD Vance ⁵

What started as a shocking statement during a debate turned into something much bigger. It became a chance to examine how bias, misinformation, and history all collide in real time. Looking at the evidence step by step helped cut through the noise and focus on what’s real; or false in this case.

This process wasn’t just academic for me. It was personal. Seeing such a cruel and false claim spread so easily about Haitians was frustrating, but sadly, not surprising. What started as one quote turned into a reminder of how deep bias still runs and how easily people believe what fits a harmful narrative. I’m proud of where I come from, and I won’t let false stories go unchallenged. By taking the time to verify each step, I didn’t just find the truth. I reclaimed the narrative. Anyone who sees something that feels off can do the same. Ask questions. Look closer. The truth is there, and finding it matters.

While I don’t want to spotlight the original poster or give the claim more attention than it deserves, you can click the caret to the left if you’d like to view the hidden post.