Donald Trump’s assertion that in Springfield, Ohio, “migrants are eating the residents’ pets, cats, and dogs” has been the most discussed – and satirized – moment from the televised debate between the two candidates for the U.S. presidency.

Naturally, the first to react, instinctively and on the spot, was Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris, who started laughing even before Trump finished his sentence, calling the theory of pet-eating in Springfield “outrageous.”

Watch this clip!!!

Trump Quote:" In Springfield. They´re eating the dogs, the people that come in. They´re eating the cats, they are eating the pets of the people that live there."

CNN Moderator: "No."#HarrisWalz2024 #HarrisTrumpDebate2024 #trump2024 #MAGA #HarrisForPOTUS pic.twitter.com/MfzxZBNuNT

— Derbender (@derbender4) September 11, 2024

ABC’s fact-checking mechanism, set up to immediately verify the information cited by both candidates, debunked Trump’s claim. ABC’s team contacted the mayor of Springfield, who categorically denied that there were any reports of pet killings or that migrants – mostly from Haiti, as that’s the majority of Springfield’s migrant population – were using dogs, cats, etc., as food.

However, even as another conspiracy theory embraced and spread by the former U.S. president, Trump’s comment about Springfield’s pets inspired dozens of social media users to get creative.

If you love your pets, you’ll vote for Trump 🇺🇸#Haiti pic.twitter.com/4dDITzoZNn

— Trump.AI (@Obielicious) September 11, 2024

Images, videos, memes, etc., flooded the internet, portraying Trump as a protector of endangered animal species, an avenger, and punisher of carnivorous foreigners.

What’s particularly notable is that AI applications were used to create the static and moving images featuring cats, dogs, and even ducks as fanatic supporters of Trump, adding an extra layer of realism to the depiction of Trump as a “Rambo pet lover.”

Save our pets!!!!! pic.twitter.com/lWkOnkxscv

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 10, 2024

Regarding the debate itself, apart from the imaginative approach to Trump’s now-iconic comment on Springfield’s pets, official viewership ratings showed that the first – and probably last before the November elections – showdown between the presidential candidates drew 67.1 million viewers.

MEME DUMP THREAD! Post all your pet related Trump memes here 👊#CatsForTrump pic.twitter.com/H94V3U0hHn

— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) September 9, 2024

MEME DUMP THREAD! Post all your pet related Trump memes here 👊#CatsForTrump pic.twitter.com/H94V3U0hHn

— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) September 9, 2024

This audience share is significantly higher, by 31%, compared to the previous debate when Trump faced the mentally faltering Joe Biden at the end of June.

The viewership figure does not, of course, include those who watched the debate via live streaming on websites, platforms, social media, etc. If it were possible to include the online viewers, the total reach of the debate would likely be many times higher than the 67.1 million estimated by polling company Nielsen.

Beyond the world of social media, in real life, Donald Trump insists that his performance in the debate led to a “great victory” over Kamala Harris. However, after the debate, the stock value of his personal platform, True Social, dropped. Given that True Social’s stock market performance somewhat acts as a barometer of Trump’s popularity, the current situation does not justify the triumphalism of its founder.

A characteristic indicator of the mood conveyed by the American media is the Time magazine cover showing Trump in a particularly difficult position, trying to reverse his golf cart uphill while its wheels are stuck in the sand.

TIME’s new cover: How Kamala Harris knocked Donald Trump off course https://t.co/GrCofd8PKV pic.twitter.com/fQc1qrilpH

— TIME (@TIME) September 11, 2024

Moreover, although not officially expressed, several of Trump’s major sponsors are reportedly quite hesitant and “numb” – if not outright negative – after the debate. Wealthy Americans who contribute millions of dollars to the campaign are said to be disappointed with Donald Trump’s performance, feeling that he had many opportunities to strike at Kamala Harris on key weaknesses of her platform, but he failed to take advantage of any of them and was soundly defeated in terms of impressions.

PETS REACTING
TO TRUMP pic.twitter.com/1sweFr8CtC

— DR. Kek (@Thekeksociety) September 11, 2024

Kamala Harris is already leading Trump in fundraising, with a margin expected to widen further after her performance in the debate.

In the aftermath of the televised clash, and particularly following Taylor Swift’s decision to endorse Kamala Harris, Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, attacked the pop superstar, calling her an “out-of-touch multi-millionaire who has no connection to the real world out there.” However, it’s clear that the Trump camp is rattled by Swift’s choice, given her immense influence, especially among young American voters. The frantic attempt to discredit her by Trump’s team reflects their concern that the scales are tipping in Harris’s favor.