'We will end the destruction': Trump makes dark promise to PA voters in late night post
Former President Donald Trump delivered a dark promise to Pennsylvania in Tuesday morning's early hours as he doubled down on anti-immigrant rhetoric weeks after saying, wrongly, that Haitian immigrants eat pets.
Trump took to Truth Social at 12:40 a.m. ET to tell the swing state's voters he would put a stop to "reckless" migration into cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
"If [Vice President] Kamala Harris wins this election, she will flood Pennsylvania cities and towns with illegal migrants from all over the world—and Pennsylvania will not be Pennsylvania any longer," Trump wrote. "We will end the invasion of small-town Pennsylvania—and we will END the destruction of America."
This messaging aligns with the lie Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) told the nation about a city in his home state that has since been bombarded with a series of violent threats.
Vance argued "illegal" Haitian immigrants were destroying life in Springfield by stealing residents' cats and dogs — a claim he presented as fact even after local officials told his team there was not a single piece of evidence to support it and despite the fact that the Haitians entered the city legally to help rebuild its economy.
Trump, warned away by Ohio's Republican governor, has reportedly canceled plans to hold a rally in the city — but on Tuesday morning did not step away from his anti-immigrant rhetoric.
"It takes centuries to build the unique character of each state," Trump said. "But reckless migration policy can change it quickly and permanently."
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Pennsylvania's major cities were founded by England and the Netherlands settlers who displaced Native Americans such as the Lenape and the Susquehannocks, who were defrauded out of their lands and denied membership in the commonwealth.
Trump on Tuesday morning vowed a crackdown on immigration into Pennsylvania and mass deportations out of it.
"When I am president, all migrant flights to Pennsylvania will STOP the moment I take the oath of office," Trump wrote. "Those who do not belong, will be sent back home."