Focus group reacts to Trump's claim that migrants are “eating the dogs” in an Ohio town

Voters from all parties in Fox News' focus group reacted to a moment in Tuesday night's presidential debate when former President Trump declared that Haitian migrants were “eating the dogs” in an Ohio town – despite resistance to the claim from local officials.

“In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, the people who came here, they're eating the cats,” Trump said. “They're eating the pets of the people who live there. And that's what's happening in our country, and it's a disgrace.”

When Trump made this statement, approval ratings fell among all groups – Republicans, Independents and Democrats – with the biggest declines among Independents and Republicans, while approval ratings remained low among Democrats.

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Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump are seen during the second presidential debate on Tuesday at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. (Getty Images)

The claim was based on a series of online reports that have gone viral in recent days. Springfield has seen a significant increase in the number of Haitian migrants arriving in the city, prompting complaints from several local residents.

These claims also include numerous unconfirmed reports of migrants eating ducks or pets. One of these claims appears to be based on an incident in Canton, Ohio, where a woman allegedly ate a cat – but there was no indication that she was Haitian.

When contacted by Fox News Digital, local authorities denied the allegations that appeared online.

“In response to recent rumors that there may be criminal activity among the immigrant population in our city, we want to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific allegations that pets belonging to individuals in the immigrant community have been harmed, injured or mistreated,” the city said.

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But a number of Republicans continued to insist on these allegations, citing, among other things, a report on a police operation claiming that migrants had stolen geese.

Following the debate, Trump's approval ratings among Republicans and independents rose again when he began to speak more generally about the border crisis, accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of “destroying this country” and warning that the U.S. would have “no chance of success” if she were elected.

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However, the number fell again among Democrats and independents and rose slightly among Republicans when Trump was questioned by the moderators on his statement and stood by it.

“People on TV say, 'My dog ​​was kidnapped and used as food,'” he said.