The GOP’s new strategy for Trump’s unfounded pet-eating allegations: Point fingers at Springfield locals and the press
Vivek Ramaswamy hosted a town hall event attended by over 300 individuals in Springfield, Ohio.
TroibNews 
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Just before a man carrying an AR-15 passed by City Hall, Vivek Ramaswamy engaged in an unexpected act.
As an Ohio Republican running for president, Ramaswamy was known for embracing various conspiracy theories, including claims that the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, was an orchestrated event and allegations about the government's dishonesty regarding 9/11.
However, during a media interaction outside Springfield's city hall, and later at a town hall and a PMG interview, Ramaswamy deliberately avoided commenting directly on Donald Trump’s unfounded allegations that Haitian migrants in the area were involved in abducting and consuming pets and wild animals.
“I think the reality is, whether residents of this community are lying or not, that's, I think, for other people to adjudicate,” he said, while a nearby armed individual was cautiously observed by police and Ramaswamy’s squad opted against a planned walking interview due to safety concerns. “But I do think that residents of this community have been raising their hand pleading for help and have not gotten attention at the federal level. And yet that's sad, because this is an embodiment of, I think, failed federal policies.”
This marked a noticeable shift for Ramaswamy from his earlier readiness to support extreme conspiracy theories, highlighting how some Republicans are inadvertently protecting Trump's baseless statements.
According to Ramaswamy, the residents are to blame if the allegations prove false, as repeatedly stated by local officials.
Navigating this terrain is complex for ambitious Republicans like Ramaswamy. The biotech entrepreneur is seen as a potential Homeland Security secretary should Trump win the presidency. Seeking favor with Trump while maintaining credibility in Ohio—where top Republicans have critiqued Trump’s claims—is crucial, especially as Ramaswamy contemplates state-level positions.
When the unfolding controversy in Springfield caught his attention, Ramaswamy reminisced about his times at Wittenberg University and local eatery Mike And Rosy's Deli. He provided insights into a strategy for Republicans reluctant to contradict Trump but eager to shift the narrative away from controversial claims about migrants.
Avoiding direct answers, he focused on criticizing the media during a city hall briefing, amid recent bomb threats. Confronted about the pet-eating allegations, Ramaswamy responded, “I'm not here to talk about the issues that the media has really loved to obsess over — OK? — cats and dogs. We're not talking about that time. We're talking about human beings.”
In his PMG interview, Ramaswamy defended his past tendency towards conspiracy theories. But when pressed on why he avoided echoing Trump and Vance’s specific claims, he redirected the conversation towards immigration.
Upon being asked about his potential political ambitions in a Cabinet role, Ramaswamy clearly stated, “I'm not trying out for anything.”
At a packed town hall, the question of his future political plans arose amid substantial public support, to which he amusingly expressed increased inclination.
However, within this predominantly white gathering, broader community issues involving the Haitian residents received little direct mention, except for a singular reference to local concerns about “motherless kittens.”
Addressing the man who raised this, Ramaswamy did not take a clear stance but acknowledged the comment, encouraged applause for the questioner, and then promptly moved on to the next.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
As an Ohio Republican running for president, Ramaswamy was known for embracing various conspiracy theories, including claims that the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, was an orchestrated event and allegations about the government's dishonesty regarding 9/11.
However, during a media interaction outside Springfield's city hall, and later at a town hall and a PMG interview, Ramaswamy deliberately avoided commenting directly on Donald Trump’s unfounded allegations that Haitian migrants in the area were involved in abducting and consuming pets and wild animals.
“I think the reality is, whether residents of this community are lying or not, that's, I think, for other people to adjudicate,” he said, while a nearby armed individual was cautiously observed by police and Ramaswamy’s squad opted against a planned walking interview due to safety concerns. “But I do think that residents of this community have been raising their hand pleading for help and have not gotten attention at the federal level. And yet that's sad, because this is an embodiment of, I think, failed federal policies.”
This marked a noticeable shift for Ramaswamy from his earlier readiness to support extreme conspiracy theories, highlighting how some Republicans are inadvertently protecting Trump's baseless statements.
According to Ramaswamy, the residents are to blame if the allegations prove false, as repeatedly stated by local officials.
Navigating this terrain is complex for ambitious Republicans like Ramaswamy. The biotech entrepreneur is seen as a potential Homeland Security secretary should Trump win the presidency. Seeking favor with Trump while maintaining credibility in Ohio—where top Republicans have critiqued Trump’s claims—is crucial, especially as Ramaswamy contemplates state-level positions.
When the unfolding controversy in Springfield caught his attention, Ramaswamy reminisced about his times at Wittenberg University and local eatery Mike And Rosy's Deli. He provided insights into a strategy for Republicans reluctant to contradict Trump but eager to shift the narrative away from controversial claims about migrants.
Avoiding direct answers, he focused on criticizing the media during a city hall briefing, amid recent bomb threats. Confronted about the pet-eating allegations, Ramaswamy responded, “I'm not here to talk about the issues that the media has really loved to obsess over — OK? — cats and dogs. We're not talking about that time. We're talking about human beings.”
In his PMG interview, Ramaswamy defended his past tendency towards conspiracy theories. But when pressed on why he avoided echoing Trump and Vance’s specific claims, he redirected the conversation towards immigration.
Upon being asked about his potential political ambitions in a Cabinet role, Ramaswamy clearly stated, “I'm not trying out for anything.”
At a packed town hall, the question of his future political plans arose amid substantial public support, to which he amusingly expressed increased inclination.
However, within this predominantly white gathering, broader community issues involving the Haitian residents received little direct mention, except for a singular reference to local concerns about “motherless kittens.”
Addressing the man who raised this, Ramaswamy did not take a clear stance but acknowledged the comment, encouraged applause for the questioner, and then promptly moved on to the next.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
