In a stunning turn of events, Donald Trump running mate JD Vance appeared to admit that the inflammatory claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets was fabricated. This revelation came amid a week of escalating racial fearmongering, triggered by Trump’s baseless debate assertion that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were “eating the dogs” of local pet owners.

The controversy erupted after Trump’s sensational claim during a debate against Kamala Harris in Philadelphia, where he suggested without evidence that thousands of legal Haitian migrants were involved in heinous acts against pets in Springfield. Despite immediate fact-checking by ABC’s David Muir, who debunked the claim, the damage was done, igniting fear and unrest in the community.

By Sunday, the fallout had intensified, with Springfield residents facing threats, including KKK fliers and bomb threats—one of which targeted Wittenberg University just hours before Vance’s CNN appearance. Pressed by journalists, Vance was forced to confront the baseless nature of the allegations that had fueled these threats.

On CNN, Vance seemed to concede that the stories about Haitian immigrants eating pets were unfounded. Despite this, he defended the continued dissemination of such claims, arguing that it was necessary to draw media attention to issues he believed were being overlooked.

“If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do,” Vance said during the interview.

CNN host Dana Bash confronted Vance directly: “You just admitted that this story was made up.”

Vance’s response was combative, accusing Bash of asking a “disgusting” question and deflecting criticism about the dangerous consequences of his misinformation. He criticized Bash for suggesting that his fabricated claims were contributing to the panic and violence in Springfield and argued that his focus was on highlighting perceived failures of Kamala Harris’s policies.

As the interview grew increasingly heated, Vance rebuffed Bash’s questions, insisting that her line of inquiry was more suited to a partisan propagandist than a journalist. He insisted that his assertions were rooted in concerns voiced by his constituents, despite lacking concrete evidence.

Even as Vance admitted the tales were fabricated on CNN, he continued to peddle them on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he offered only anecdotal evidence and a video of people cooking chickens as supposed proof.

Watch the interview below:

The controversy has drawn widespread condemnation. Dayton Police Chief Kambran Afzal denounced Vance’s claims, emphasizing that there was no evidence linking immigrants to any pet-related incidents. Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania also condemned Vance, labeling him as “pathetic” and criticizing his attempt to blame his own lies on his constituents.

With Vance’s credibility in question, the fallout from his statements and the ensuing media frenzy are expected to significantly impact his political future, whether in his current Senate role or a potential vice-presidential bid.