President Joe Biden has unequivocally denounced recent attacks targeting Haitian Americans, delivered during a White House brunch celebrating Black excellence.
Biden’s remarks, made on Friday, were a direct rebuttal to baseless claims propagated by Republican leaders, notably his rival, Donald Trump, and Trump’s vice presidential pick, JD Vance.
In his address, Biden criticized the inflammatory rhetoric directed at Haitian Americans, condemning it as "simply wrong" and calling for an end to such divisive discourse.
Although Biden did not name Trump explicitly, his comments were a pointed critique of the former president and Vance, who have been at the forefront of a campaign based on anti-immigrant sentiment.
The controversy centers around Springfield, Ohio, where tensions have escalated with the growing Haitian American population. Springfield, part of America’s industrial Rust Belt, has recently experienced an influx of Haitian immigrants, estimated between 4,000 and 15,000.
This increase has spurred local backlash, exacerbated by an incident in August 2023 when a Haitian national was involved in a tragic car crash that killed an 11-year-old child.
The situation was further inflamed by unsubstantiated rumors circulating on social media, alleging that Haitian Americans were involved in bizarre and false activities, such as eating pets.
Despite the lack of evidence supporting these claims, Trump and Vance have repeatedly echoed them in their speeches and debates, with Trump notably mentioning the rumors during a high-profile presidential debate watched by 67 million viewers.
The spread of these rumors has intensified scrutiny and hostility towards the Haitian American community in Springfield. Recently, the city has faced multiple threats, including a bomb threat that led to the evacuation of city hall and other public buildings.
Trump’s rhetoric has continued unabated. In a news conference held at his golf club in Los Angeles, he described the Haitian migrant situation in Springfield as catastrophic, promising a major crackdown on immigration should he win re-election.
Trump’s proposal includes what he termed the "largest deportation in the history of our country," targeting cities like Springfield and Aurora, Colorado.
