Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) responded to Democrats today, rejecting their claims that Republicans were responsible for the recent disturbances involving Haitian migrants in Springfield. Following several days of bomb threats and school evacuations, DeWine confirmed that all 33 threats were hoaxes, many of which originated from overseas sources, likely as a means of handing Democrats a narrative with which to hammer Trump and his supporters.
In a press briefing, DeWine addressed the fears and confusion caused by the false bomb threats. “We have received 33 separate bomb threats, each one of which has been responded to, and each one has been found to be a hoax,” DeWine said. “I want to make that very, very clear. None of these had any validity at all.”
The threats, which started earlier in the week, heightened tensions in Springfield, resulting in school evacuations and prompting local officials to call for a reduction in anti-immigrant rhetoric. The city has become a central point in the ongoing debate over Haitian migrants, especially after former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, publicly criticized the increasing number of migrants in the area.
“We know that people are very, very concerned, and we have taken some actions to address that. But let me say this: These hoaxes, these threats have all been hoaxes. None of them have panned out,” DeWine said. “We have people, unfortunately, overseas who are taking these actions. Some of them are coming from one particular country, and they are looking for opportunities to mess with the United States.” The governor made it clear that the situation was being managed and that additional resources had been moved into Springfield to ensure the safety of the community. “We cannot let the bad guys win,” he stressed. “Our schools must remain open.”
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During a rally in Ohio, Trump and Vance voiced concerns about the effects of Haitian migrants on local communities. In response, Democrats quickly criticized them, accusing the duo of inciting violence and fear. However, the recent revelation that the bomb threats were foreign-generated hoaxes has changed the narrative, leading Republicans to call for accountability from both the media and Democrats who amplified the story.
Local officials and law enforcement worked tirelessly to address the threats, and now that the situation is under control, Republicans are demanding apologies. Trump and Vance, who have been central to the controversy, are vigorously defending themselves. Springfield has become a focal point in this debate, with Democrats accusing Republicans of fear-mongering and Republicans countering that Democrats are exaggerating the impact of their rhetoric.
Last week, Vance tore into Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrats, and her supporters in the media over reports that are coming out of Springfield, where the Biden-Harris administration sent some 20,000 Haitian migrants who have illegally entered the country over the past few years to the city of about 60,000. In particular, former President Donald Trump’s running mate took them all to task for essentially ignoring the problem until now when they saw an opportunity to falsely label the town’s residents as “racists” for complaining about being suddenly overwhelmed with people who, in Vance’s parlance, “have no right to be here.”
“In the last several weeks, my office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield who’ve said their neighbors’ pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants. It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false. Do you know what’s confirmed?” Vance began in a post to the X platform. “That a child was murdered by a Haitian migrant who had no right to be here. That local health services have been overwhelmed. That communicable diseases–like TB and HIV–have been on the rise. That local schools have struggled to keep up with newcomers who don’t know English. That rents have risen so fast that many Springfield families can’t afford to put a roof over their head.”
He then posted a link to a tweet previously posted by Harris “bragging about giving amnesty to thousands of Haitian migrants.” Harris said: “We extended Temporary Protected Status to over 100,000 Haitian Migrants…They need support.”
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