More than 30 bomb threats made in Springfield, Ohio, after false pets claims
NBCSep 22
Ohio Governor Deploys State Troopers to Springfield Amid Threats
Above: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Image copyright: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
In the face of continuing threats to institutions in the city of Springfield, Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday announced he's increasing security there, including sending three dozen state troopers to protect the schools.
The city has been targeted, DeWine said, by a "series of unfounded bomb threats" — many from "overseas" — in the days since former Pres. Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, amplified unsubstantiated claims about Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets in Springfield.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Because of these false smears, children in Springfield have to go to school scared while armed guards walk the halls and campuses. Trump and Vance could've spoken out to reduce the number of threats, but instead, they've continued using hateful rhetoric against the immigrants — with Vance even admitting he may have fabricated the pet-eating story to draw attention to an issue. This is unacceptable for those who want to serve in the highest offices in the land.
Republican narrative
It was easy at the outset for Democrats and their allies in the media to blame Trump and Vance for the alleged threats of violence. But that narrative is crumbling now that DeWine has revealed most of the threats have been hoaxes called in from overseas. Now that the lies about threats have been debunked, it's time to focus on the immigrant invasion that's destroying cities like Springfield because of the Biden-Harris administration's open-border policies.