A joke? A provocation that lasted only a few seconds? No. After sparking a political uproar and a relentless wave of memes on social media, Donald Trump seems to have remained a prisoner of the rampage of “Haitian immigrants who eat dogs and cats in Springfield.” The former president and Republican candidate had launched the accusation, which was immediately neutralized. fake news by the moderator, during Tuesday night's televised debate with Kamala Harris. US media later clarified that the person who suggested the anti-migrant outburst to Trump was right-wing influencer and favorite of the tycoon Laura Loomer, known for spreading baseless conspiracy theories on the most disparate topics. But once the provocation was launched, Trump decided to play along, and even accentuate it further at rallies in the following days. Arriving in Las Vegas on Saturday night, he repeated to reporters that Springfield, the Ohio city in question, “is being conquered by illegal immigrants: it's a terrible thing, it used to be a beautiful city and now it's living in hell.” Trump also added that he knew nothing about the bomb threats reported in recent days in his own city following his incendiary statement.
The invasion and the “largest deportation in history”
“The real threat is what's happening at our borders,” Trump said yesterday from California, where he has been heavily criticized for anti-immigration rhetoric, as reported by the CNN. “The people of Ohio are scared. It’s getting worse and worse, it’s like an invasion, and we’re going to have to do the biggest deportation in the history of our country. And we’re going to start in Springfield and Aurora.” Later, at another rally in Las Vegas, more similar shots: “We’re being invaded like an army, except it’s much harder in many ways because they’re not in uniform, you don’t know exactly who you’re fighting.” In short, Trump promises those who follow him live or on his channels that he will soon be “the president of the borders.” It remains to be seen whether the American electorate will follow him in this surreal crusade, or whether the Republican candidate has entered a self-generated impasse with the sensational fake news about Springfield.
Read also:
