PHILADELPHIA – The recent presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris was one of the most heated in recent memory.
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Both candidates made several controversial claims, which have been closely analyzed by the News4JAX Trust Index team. Here’s a breakdown of some of the major statements and how they hold up under scrutiny.
Claim 1: Immigrants Eating Pets in Springfield, Ohio
During the debate, former President Trump made a shocking claim.
“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,” Trump said.
Trump’s allegation, which focused on Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, sparked immediate concern. However, a statement from the Springfield Police Division said there have been “no credible reports or specific claims of animals being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the migrant community.”
The rumor appears to have originated from a Sept. 6 post on “X” (formerly Twitter) showing a supposed screenshot from a Facebook group. The post claimed that someone’s “neighbor’s daughter’s friend” saw a cat being carved for food. This allegation is unsubstantiated, and there is no solid evidence to back it up.
The Trust Index Team gives this statement a rating of NOT TRUE – There is no credible proof that Haitian immigrants in Springfield are eating pets.
Claim 2: Trump’s Warning of a “Bloodbath”
Harris accused Trump of suggesting violence if he loses the election.
“Donald Trump has said in this election there will be a bloodbath if the outcome of this election is not to his liking,” Trump said.
However, this statement was taken out of context. Trump’s original remarks were made during a rally in March and were about the American auto industry, not the election.
He warned of a “bloodbath” if his tariffs on foreign-made cars were not implemented, which could lead to severe consequences for the auto sector.
Trust Index Rating: NOT TRUE – The context of Trump’s “bloodbath” comment was misrepresented.
Claim 3: No U.S. Military in Combat Zones
Harris made a claim about U.S. military involvement.
“As of today, there is not one member of the United States military who is in active duty in a combat zone, in any war zone around the world, for the first time this century,” Harris said.
While the claim is mostly accurate, U.S. military deployments remain in conflict zones. For instance, two Mayport-based destroyers, the USS Carney and USS Mason, were deployed to the Middle East this past summer to protect shipping channels and engage with Iranian-backed Houthi targets.
Trust Index Rating: BE CAREFUL – Although combat missions have been reduced, U.S. forces remain active in conflict areas.
Claim 4: $85 Billion in Military Equipment Left in Afghanistan
Trump made this claim about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“We wouldn’t have left $85 billion worth of ‘brand new beautiful military equipment behind’ in Afghanistan that was seized by the Taliban,” Trump said.
The figure cited by Trump is inflated. According to the Department of Defense, the $85 billion figure refers to the total amount spent on the Afghan Security Forces from 2001 onwards. The actual value of the military equipment seized by the Taliban after the U.S. withdrawal is estimated to be around $7.12 billion.
Trust Index Rating: BE CAREFUL – The claim exaggerates the value of the equipment left behind.
Opinions of the debate have been divided among News4JAX insiders.
“VP Harris held her own against former president Trump. The entire debate disregarded all questions that were asked, and he constantly brought up immigrants and fracking,” Jada said.
An anonymous viewer shared a contrasting opinion:
“Trump was fantastic! He was strong, confident, and he won. Kamala looked unrepentant for all the damage she has done to our country.”
Stay tuned as the News4JAX Trust Index team continues to break down the facts surrounding key political debates.