Kamala Harris and Donald Trump face off in debate: Latest updates

Vance continues to spread false claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are stealing and eating their neighbors’ pets.

Responding to a question from NBC News’ Yamiche Alcindor after the debate, Trump’s running mate said a small immigrant community was responsible for many of the city’s problems, including animal disappearances, but police and city officials said there was no evidence of that.

Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck told ABC News there were “no credible reports or specific allegations that pets belonging to individuals from the immigrant community have been harmed, injured or mistreated.”

However, Heck’s testimony was not enough to convince Vance.

“The city manager said there was no verifiable evidence. Many local residents have said there was,” he told Alcindor. “That just means, in my opinion, that the city manager is not fully aware of what is going on there. I have heard from many of my own constituents who have seen these things with their own eyes, who have seen these kidnappings with their own eyes, who have seen geese taken from local parks and slaughtered in front of them.”

Trump has also adopted the racist lie, brought it up during yesterday’s debate and published numerous posts about it on his Truth Social platform.

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs,” Trump said. “The people who came here are eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people who live there. And that’s what’s happening in our country. And it’s a disgrace.”