'Extreme strain on our resources': Springfield’s GOP mayor asks Trump to stay away after bomb threats

18 September 2024

Springfield, Ohio has been on high alert in response to bomb threats that followed comments former President Donald Trump made during his September 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia, where Trump promoted the racist conspiracy theory that Haitian immigrants in the city have been kidnapping pet owners' cats and dogs and eating them.

The conspiracy theory has been debunked by two Ohio Republicans: Gov. Mike DeWine and Springfield Mayor Rob Rue — who is urging Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) to stay away from Springfield.

At Springfield City Hall on Tuesday, September 17, Rue told reporters, "It would be an extreme strain on our resources. So it'd be fine with me if they decided not to make that visit."

Wine was also present at press conference, where he said that although a visit from a presidential candidate would "generally" be "very, very welcomed," Springfield has limited resources.

"I have to state the reality, though, that resources are really, really stretched here," DeWine told reporters.

The bomb threats have been made against Springfield schools and other government buildings. And the Ohio governor said he will make sure that those schools receive extra police protection.

Vance, on September 17, didn't rule out visiting Springfield.

Trump's running mate told reporters, "I haven't made plans to go just in the last few days. I know the president would like to go but also hasn’t made any explicit plans."

From Your Site Articles