Vivek Ramaswamy slams media for focusing on 'fringe aspect' of false pet-eating claim about Haiti migrants

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO: Former GOP White House hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has slammed the media for focusing on "fringe elements" in Ohio's false pet-eating Haitian migrants conspiracy theory instead of discussing the larger picture.

The biotech entrepreneur accused the media of not paying attention to the impact of the influx of migrants to Springfield, Ohio.

"I think that there is a temptation, social media included, but traditional media included as well, to pick on some fringe aspect of a really important discussion," Ramaswamy claimed to Fox News Digital on Thursday, September 19.

Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen JD Vance, have spread the debunked conspiracy theory in an attempt to assert the negative effect of Haitian immigrants arriving in Springfield.

Vivek Ramaswamy claims media's focus on 'fringe elements' swept critical issue under the rug

Ramaswamy hosted a town hall in Springfield on September 19 after the city turned infamous for the conspiracy theory propagated by the Trump-Vance ticket.

The former GOP presidential candidate downplayed the pet-eating bogus claim, implying it might have stemmed from people's unrehearsed discussions about an "important subject affecting Americans."

"And I think the media, in this particular case, has latched on to some fringe elements of that discussion, right? Some side topics that really are not close to the most important issue here and have used that to sweep under the rug actual real challenges created by, not small, but mass migration to this community," Ramaswamy added.

The pet-eating migrants claim first surfaced on social media and were brought into national headlines by Trump after he mentioned it during the ABC News debate against Vice President Kamala Harris and later amplified by Vance. Despite the city officials debunking it as a false claim, the duo refused to retract their statements, eventually leading to threats against the city.

Since Springfield was brought into the national spotlight over the conspiracy theory, it received 33 bomb threats, as per CNN. Furthermore, it led to the temporary closing of two colleges and two schools. In light of the rising public safety concerns, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue declared an emergency proclamation on September 19.

Ramaswamy further added that the 20, 000 migrants in Springfield have exhausted the city's resources.

"That is real. That's not an issue that you can sweep under the rug just by … airlifting some word that someone said and pretend like that's the real story while actually failing to focus on the actual real story. So that's one of my goals from this visit," the Ohio native said.

Internet slams Vivek Ramaswamy over his spin on Haitian migrants' pet-eating conspiracy theory

Netizens blasted Ramaswamy for downplaying the Haitian migrant pet-eating theory spread by Trump and Vance and instead blaming the media for their lack of focus on the larger issue of the migrant influx.

"The media "obsessing over" a topic those guys brought up! Repeatedly! Jeez," a user said.

"Then what is he there for? Vance and Trump invented the issues," another remarked.

"What a worthless human being he is," added a third user.

"Those are the issues his political party’s candidates keep lying about over and over!" read a fourth response.

"He want to be a the table so bad he willing to do anything … say anything! Bless his heart!" someone else wrote.

"Because he’s as big of a joke as @JDVance," another chimed in.

"@VivekGRamaswamy and others propping up Trump's hate and racism. You look like you're trying to put bandaids on massive damage. Shameful!!" read one remark.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.