Eric Swalwell rebukes Jim Jordan over AI generated cat images about Haitian migrant rumors

Democrats on Tuesday pushed back on conservative rhetoric and online memes regarding false claims that illegal Haitian immigrants hurt household pets. 

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance has helped circulate the rumor that pets like ducks and cats are being eaten by the illegal immigrants, including in Springfield, Ohio. But local police have rejected the allegations, stating on Monday that there are no "credible reports" about pets "being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.” 

California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell had a melt down during a House Judiciary hearing on the border and immigration crisis, regarding Chairman Jim Jordan's sharing of AI-generated images that helped spread the claims. 

“What in the hell is this? The chairman tweets protect our ducks and kittens in Ohio because he goes some down, goes down some crazy rabbit hole," Swalwell said in the rant. “[It is] completely debunked that aliens are eating pets. My God. Are you okay, Mr. Chairman?”

The White House also blasted the circulation of the images on social media, claiming they were a "dangerous" form of conspiracy theories. 

“This kind of disinformation is dangerous because there will be people that believe it no matter how ludicrous and stupid it is,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a briefing. “And they might act on that kind of information and act on it in a way where somebody could get hurt. So, it needs to stop.”

Kirby said the public should focus more on how Haitian immigrants are fleeing a country that has been taken over by violent gangs, and who are facing starvation.

“What’s deeply concerning to us is you’ve got now elected officials in the Republican Party pushing yet another conspiracy theory that’s just seeking to divide people based on lies and, let’s be honest, based on an element of racism,” Kirby said. 

Vance claimed on Tuesday that his office had been contacted by constituents in Springfield who told him that their pets were abducted by the migrants, but admitted that the reports could end up being false. He went on to highlight other ways migrants have affected the Ohio community.

"If you're a reporter, or an activist, who didn't give a s*** about these suffering Americans until yesterday, I have some advice," Vance posted to X. "Spare your outrage for your fellow citizens suffering under Kamala Harris's policies. Be outraged at yourself for letting this happen."

He added that people should keep the "cat memes flowing."

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.