Donald Trump Faces Backlash for Springfield Bomb Threat Response
www.newsweek.com

... Former President Donald Trump is facing backlash for failing to denounce the bomb threats made in Springfield, Ohio, on Saturday.

As reported by Newsweek and The Associated Press earlier this week, an emailed threat said bombs had been planted in the homes of Springfield's mayor and other city officials. A second email said that bombs would be detonated at locations including Springfield City Hall, several schools, and offices, leading to several evacuations.

In addition, there was an emailed threat regarding a potential shooting on campus at Wittenberg University, a private liberal arts college in the city, leading to school evacuations and the canceling of planned events.

In a statement, the university said: "Wittenberg University is currently taking extreme precautions following an email sent Saturday, Sept. 14, that threatened a potential shooting on-campus on Sunday, September 15, 2024. The message targeted Haitian members of our community. Wittenberg Police are cooperating with the Springfield Police Division and the FBI to investigate this threat."

The bomb and shooting threats followed derogatory statements made by Trump about Haitian immigrants in the community.

In Tuesday's debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump said, "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs"the people that came in. They're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what's happening in our country, and it's a shame."

In footage reposted online, the Republican presidential nominee was asked by a reporter in Las Vegas on Saturday: "Do you denounce the bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio?"

Trump avoided answering the question directly, saying: "I don't know what happened with the bomb threats," before implying the real threat is at the border: "I know that it's been taken over by illegal migrants and that's a terrible thing that happened.

"Springfield was this beautiful town and now they're going through hell. It's a sad thing. Not going to happen with me, I can tell you right now." ...

Days of preparation and one final warning. How Kamala Harris got ready for her big debate moment
apnews.com

... It was almost time for the presidential debate, but Kamala Harris' staff thought there was one more thing she needed to know. So less than an hour before the vice president left her Philadelphia hotel, two communications aides got her on the phone for one of the strangest briefings of her political career.

They told her that Donald Trump had been posting on social media about a false and racist rumor that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating people's pets. The former president might mention it during the debate, they said.

The warning, described by two people with knowledge of the conversation, proved spot on.

While answering a question about immigration policy, Trump said migrants in Springfield were "eating the dogs" and "they're eating the cats." Harris laughed, shook her head and stared at her Republican opponent in amazement. "Talk about extreme," she said, and then moved on. ...