J.D. Vance, an important bridge between the GOP and elements of the radical right that have been activated by Trump, played a key role. “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country,” Vance tweeted.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg argued that it’s a “strategy” for Donald Trump to push the racist lie that Haitian immigrants are eating pets on Thursday. “There’s even more to it than demonizing immigrants although that’s obviously part of what he’s doing,

Immigrants eating pets. Democrats in favor of executing newborn babies. Israel ceasing to exist under a potential Kamala Harris presidency.

J.D. Vance invited the internet Tuesday to “keep the cat memes flowing,” hoping to spread cartoonishly racist rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio had begun eating house pets (which even he acknowledged were probably untrue).