Josh Shapiro on JD Vance's Springfield claims: He 'should be ashamed of himself'

(The Hill) – Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) slammed Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R) on Sunday for his amplification of an untrue claim of Haitians eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.

“There is a causal connection between the BS that JD Vance and Donald Trump spew, and the safety and security of the American people,” Shapiro said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” following a heated interview between Vance and anchor Dana Bash in which they discussed the Springfield claim.

“When they go out and they lie about this stuff, they put their fellow Americans at risk,” Shapiro added. “JD Vance should be ashamed of himself. He knows better.”

Former President Trump referenced the false claim of Haitians eating pets at Tuesday night's presidential debate against Vice President Harris, and Vance amplified the claim a day before.

“What they have done to our country by allowing these millions and millions of people to come into our country — and look at what’s happening to the towns [in the] United States, a lot of towns don’t want to talk," Trump said Tuesday. "Not going to be Aurora [or] Springfield. A lot of towns don’t want to talk about it because they’re so embarrassed by it. In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs.”

Right before Shapiro came on “State of the Union,” Vance and Bash got into a heated back-and-forth over the topic of the Springfield claim.

“He just doesn't understand the power of his words, the power of his lies, and those lies are putting people at risk,” Shapiro said. “This is dangerous stuff.”

The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign and a spokesperson for Vance for comment.