Washington:

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Wednesday stood by debunked claims that immigrants in Ohio have been consuming pets, telling Latino voters throughout a city corridor he was “simply saying what was reported.”

Trump in latest weeks has amplified a false declare that has gone viral that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, have been stealing residents’ pets or taking wildlife from parks for meals.

There have been no credible studies of Haitians consuming pets, and officers in Ohio – together with Republicans – have repeatedly mentioned the story is unfaithful.

At a city corridor hosted by Univision, an undecided Latino Republican voter from Arizona, a battleground state, requested Trump whether or not he actually believed that immigrants have been consuming pets.

“I used to be simply saying what was reported. All I do is report,” Trump replied throughout the occasion held in Miami. “I used to be there, I will be there and we’re going to have a look.”

Trump added that “newspapers” had additionally reported on the declare, with out naming any or offering any particulars.

Trump, who has not but traveled to Springfield, has beforehand mentioned he would conduct mass deportations of Haitian immigrants from the Ohio metropolis, although the vast majority of them are within the U.S. legally.

Town has confronted bomb threats since Trump started repeating the false accusations about Haitians.

Within the ultimate weeks earlier than the Nov. 5 election, Trump is more and more resorting to darker and extra violent language about unlawful immigration, a difficulty that opinion polls present resonates with many citizens, particularly Republicans.

He’s competing towards Democrat Kamala Harris for key votes from the rising Latino inhabitants. Latino voters have usually backed Democrats, however the Trump marketing campaign is hoping to win over extra Latino voters, particularly males, on the again of financial discontent.

Harris led Trump by eight share factors – 47% to 39% – amongst Hispanic voters in Reuters/Ipsos polling performed between Sept. 11 and Oct. 7.

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)