In a tense exchange on CNN's State of the Union, vice presidential candidate and Ohio Sen. JD Vance appeared to take credit for fueling the media frenzy surrounding unfounded allegations of pet-eating in Springfield, Ohio. Despite the subsequent bomb threats and pleas from local officials to stop, Vance defended his actions, asserting that he was merely drawing attention to the suffering caused by Kamala Harris' policies.

Vance initially stated, "The American media totally ignored this stuff until Donald Trump and I start talking about cat memes." When pressed by Dana Bash on whether he created the false claims, Vance clarified that they had created the "actual focus" on the issue within the American media. However, he attributed the influx of illegal migrants in Springfield to Harris' policies, not himself.

Bash challenged Vance on the calls for violence against Springfield and its Haitian community, emphasizing the danger it posed. Ignoring the officials' pleas, Vance insisted that the media was ignoring the issue and contended that some of the baseless claims had since been confirmed. He pointed to a 911 call reporting a Haitian immigrant stealing a goose, which was subsequently dismissed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Furthermore, the Ohio Department of Wildlife disclosed that the viral photos of an individual holding a goose were taken in Columbus and that the bird had been hit by a car. Despite this debunking of the incident, Vance continued to emphasize that the media was misrepresenting the situation.

Bash urged Vance to be more constructive, expressing concern over the bomb threats that had forced evacuations of hospitals, schools, and government buildings. This sparked a heated response from Vance, accusing Bash of being a Democratic propagandist rather than an unbiased journalist.

Local officials, however, held a different perspective. Springfield Mayor Rob Hue condemned the bomb threats as a "hateful response" targeting the Haitian population and criticized national politicians for mischaracterizing the community. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also weighed in, criticizing Vance and Trump for putting their fellow Americans at risk with their falsehoods.

The controversial exchange on State of the Union shed light on Vance's role in amplifying baseless claims and the subsequent negative ramifications they had on the city of Springfield. The debate over the responsibility of politicians and the media in disseminating accurate information remains a contentious topic as the election draws near.