Republicans are suddenly sharing lots of cat pictures on social networks in connection with the US election. But why? This has to do with statements made by Trump’s vice-candidate JD Vance.
The American town of Springfield is notorious for its bizarre inhabitants and their strange behavior. Does this include the eating of dogs and cats by Haitian immigrants? That is exactly what JD Vance, Donald Trump’s vice presidential candidate, claims. The Republican is referring to the real town of Springfield in the state of Ohio – and not the fictional home of the famous TV family Simpsons.
Authorities in Springfield are not aware of any pet incidents
These derogatory allegations have been doing the rounds for some time. US media have investigated and, citing authorities in the allegedly affected city, report that such incidents are not known. But on social media, the rumor quickly became a campaign meme: For example, conservative Senator Ted Cruz posted a photo of a cat on the X platform with the message: “Please vote for Trump so that migrants from Haiti don’t eat us.”
Cruz triggered a veritable photo boom, with both Donald Trump and his supporters sharing images of cats and ducks generated using artificial intelligence. Tech billionaire and X owner Musk shared a picture of a chick and a cat on his platform and wrote: “Save them.”
Vance himself added: “Over the past few weeks, my office has received many inquiries from Springfield residents reporting that their neighbors’ pets or animals in the area have been kidnapped by Haitian migrants. It is, of course, possible that all of these rumors turn out to be false.”
Republican candidate Trump posted a photo on his own Truth Social network showing himself on a plane surrounded by cats and ducks. He also posted a photo of a cat holding a machine gun and wearing a MAGA cap. MAGA stands for “Make America Great Again” and is Trump’s campaign slogan.
Migration important in US election
Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace posted an AI-generated image on X showing Trump with a cat under his arm and a goose next to him.
The issue of migration plays an important role in the US election campaign. As Vice President, Kamala Harris was responsible for the issue, among other things. Her opponent in the presidential election on November 5, former President Trump, has repeatedly attacked the 59-year-old on this issue and accused her of failure.
Kamala Harris reacts mockingly
Trump also mentioned the pet rumour in the TV debate with Kamala Harris. The Democratic opponent reacted mockingly to his statement: “If you talk about extreme,” she said with a smile.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
