Trump Supporter Whose Police Report Fueled Cat-Eating Rumor Found Pet In Basement Days Later: WSJ
www.huffpost.com
The rumor gained national attention after Donald Trump accused Haitian migrants in Ohio of stealing and eating neighborhood pets during last week's presidential debate.

…

But the day before the Trump-Harris debate, Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck had explicitly debunked the rumor to a Vance aide, according to a Thursday report from the Wall Street Journal.

When the Journal approached Vance’s team about the cat-eating claim, a spokesperson provided a police report from a Springfield resident who accused her Haitian neighbors of being responsible for her cat going missing in late August.

But when the outlet contacted the person who filed the report, Anna Kilgore, she told the paper that her pet, Miss Sassy, was found in her basement days after she contacted the police.

Kilgore, who was wearing a Trump shirt and hat when the Journal spoke with her, told reporters that she had since apologized to her Haitian neighbors.

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  • NineMileTower@lemmy.world
    331·
    3 months ago

    rumor /roo͞′mər/ noun

    A piece of unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth. Unverified information received from another; hearsay. A flying or popular report; the common talk; hence, public fame; notoriety.

    propaganda /prŏp″ə-găn′də/ noun

    The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause. Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause. “wartime propaganda.”

    This wasn’t a rumor. This was maliciously spread propaganda.

    • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      413·
      3 months ago

      You think this all started as a propaganda plot?! It was a rumor that went viral and was latched onto for propaganda.