Trump Faces Criticism for Doubling Down on Racist Conspiracy Theory About Haitian Immigrants
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by James Devaney
Former President Donald Trump is under fire once again for his response to a racist conspiracy theory involving Haitian immigrants, prompting sharp criticism from political analysts. The controversy stems from comments Trump made at a Univision town hall in Miami, where he reiterated false claims that Haitian immigrants in the U.S. were eating pet cats and dogs—a baseless accusation he defended by saying he was merely repeating “what was reported.”
Steven Benen, a producer for The Rachel Maddow Show, was particularly outraged by Trump’s explanation, calling it his “worst” response yet. “Like someone’s crazy uncle, [Trump’s] peddling nonsense without regard for accuracy, decency, or consequences,” Benen remarked in a scathing analysis published Thursday.
The original comment, made during a presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris in September, caused a significant backlash. At the time, Trump claimed, without evidence, that Haitian immigrants were “eating the pets of the people that live there.” Benen pointed out that Trump made these remarks without any qualifiers or hesitation, stating them as fact. “The former president simply asserted that racist lies were factual. For him to pretend more than a month later that he wasn’t responsible for peddling this garbage is ridiculous,” Benen added.
The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that a local official in Springfield, Ohio, where the rumor originated, contacted Sen. J.D. Vance, Trump’s running mate, on September 9 to clarify that there was no evidence to support the claim. Despite this, neither Vance nor Trump retracted or corrected their statements.
Trump’s reliance on conspiracy theories is not new. Benen recalled an incident from a 2016 Ohio campaign event, where Trump falsely claimed a man who rushed the stage had ties to ISIS. When called out for spreading the false rumor, Trump responded, “What do I know about it? All I know is what’s on the internet.”
Benen argued that Trump’s tendency to spread such misinformation without taking responsibility reveals a disturbing pattern. During an NBC News town hall in 2020, Trump promoted bizarre conspiracy theories involving Osama bin Laden and SEAL Team 6, to which NBC’s Savannah Guthrie famously replied, “You’re the president. You’re not someone’s crazy uncle who can retweet whatever.”
Benen closed his argument by suggesting that Guthrie’s assessment may have been overly optimistic, as Trump continues to perpetuate harmful and baseless claims. “Adults with critical thinking skills tend not to say things such as, ‘All I know is what’s on the internet,'” Benen wrote, emphasizing that the GOP’s current nominee for the highest office in the country appears to lack such discernment.
Trump’s recent remarks about Haitian immigrants have further fueled concerns about his rhetoric, with critics warning that such false and divisive statements could have real consequences, particularly in communities where misinformation already has a dangerous impact.
