Senator JD Vance (R-OH) clashed with CNN host Dana Bash during a heated interview on State of the Union Sunday, pushing back against claims that he and former President Donald Trump incited bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio, with their remarks about Haitian migrants.

The town, which has a population of about 40,000, recently saw an influx of around 20,000 Haitian immigrants, sparking concerns among residents.

The interview quickly became contentious when Bash suggested that Vance’s remarks were contributing to a climate of fear and causing disruptions, including bomb threats at local hospitals and government buildings.

Celebrate Trump's Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

She referenced comments made by the mayor of Springfield, Rob Rue, who said federal politicians were negatively impacting the town with their rhetoric.

Bash accused Vance of elevating a baseless rumor about immigrants eating pets and wildlife, asking why he would continue spreading such claims despite local officials disputing them.

Vance responded sharply, defending his decision to raise concerns brought to him by his constituents. “What’s putting the residents of Springfield at risk… is that they can’t afford housing, they can’t afford health care. The schools have been overwhelmed, the hospitals have been overwhelmed,” Vance said.

He attributed these challenges to the influx of migrants, which he said had overwhelmed the town’s services, adding that these issues had been ignored by the media until he and Trump began speaking out.

Vance pushed back on Bash’s framing, explaining that many of the concerns he raised were based on direct feedback from residents. “My constituents have brought approximately a dozen separate concerns to me. Ten of them are verifiable and confirmable, and a couple of them I talk about because my constituents are telling me firsthand that they’re seeing these things,” he said.

Vance argued that ignoring his constituents’ concerns would be a disservice, pointing out that the media had long overlooked the challenges facing small communities like Springfield.

The conversation escalated when Bash accused Vance of contributing to bomb threats through his comments. Vance shot back, calling Bash’s remark “disgusting.” He stated, “There was nothing that I have said that has led to threats against these hospitals… We condemn all violence.” Vance continued, criticizing the media for not addressing the real concerns of the community and instead focusing on controversial statements.

One of the key points of contention in the interview was a viral story about Haitian immigrants allegedly eating pets and wildlife in Springfield.

Vance defended his decision to bring up the issue, noting that it was based on complaints from local residents and even 911 calls. “I was told, Dana, by the American media, that it was baseless that migrants were capturing the geese from the local park pond and eating them. And yet there are 911 calls from well before this ever became a viral sensation of people complaining about that exact thing happening,” he explained, reinforcing his stance that he was listening to his constituents.

As the interview progressed, the back-and-forth between Vance and Bash became more tense, with Vance accusing Bash of repeatedly interrupting him. “Dana, would you like to ask me questions and then let me answer them? Or would you like to debate me on these topics?” he asked, clearly frustrated.

He also pointed out that Bash had treated other political figures, including Vice President Kamala Harris, with more leniency during interviews, allowing them to answer questions without interruption.

The exchange highlighted Vance’s determination to stand by his constituents and push back against accusations that his comments were inciting violence or spreading misinformation.

He emphasized that his concerns about the impact of mass immigration on small towns like Springfield were legitimate and rooted in firsthand accounts from the community.

Watch the video:

I can’t stop watching this. Dana Bash jerking her head around like a bird because her target didn’t accept her Narrative’s premise. Vance rejects the premises. Then he attacks the premises. Just beautiful. pic.twitter.com/gsNOV4hiwJ

— Oilfield Rando (@Oilfield_Rando) September 15, 2024

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.