(AP) Gov. Mike DeWine said he is trusting Springfield city officials when they say there is no evidence of Haitian immigrants abducting and eating pets after former President Donald Trump repeated false rumors of such acts happening in the city.

During Tuesday night's presidential debate, Trump brought up the Clark County town located about 45 miles west of Columbus, saying immigrants are taking over the city.

“They’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” Trump said. Vice President Kamala Harris called Trump “extreme" for the comment.

DeWine was in Springfield for an unrelated event on Wednesday when he was asked about Trump's comments.

"I think we should take the word of the city manager and the mayor that they have found no credible evidence of that story, of Haitians eating pets," DeWine said.

The governor said the state is not aware of reports either.

DeWine acknowledged that Springfield is dealing with a surge in temporary Haitian migrants. During a Tuesday press conference, he said he doesn't oppose the Temporary Protected Status program under which 15,000 Haitians have arrived in a city of about 59,000 since 2020.

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