Former President Donald J. Trump criticized the migrant population of a small industrial town in western Pennsylvania during a rally in Indiana, Pennsylvania, on Monday. Trump’s remarks focused on Charleroi, a borough of approximately 4,000 people located about 50 miles from where the rally was held. He likened the Haitian migrants who have settled in Charleroi to those in Springfield, Ohio, another town that has attracted national attention due to Trump’s controversial comments about immigrants.
Trump’s rhetoric centered on the notion that the presence of Haitian migrants had fundamentally changed the character of Charleroi. “Has your beautiful town changed?” he asked the crowd, referencing Charleroi. He went on to describe the town as being “composed of lawless gangs,” echoing sentiments he has expressed previously about other communities with growing immigrant populations. This type of messaging is a familiar tactic for Trump, who has frequently used immigration as a rallying point to stir his base, particularly in swing states like Pennsylvania.
His comments about Haitian migrants were not limited to Pennsylvania. Trump also referenced Springfield, Ohio, where he previously made debunked claims that Haitian migrants were involved in criminal activities, including the bizarre accusation that they had stolen and eaten their neighbors’ pets. These statements have contributed to heightened tensions in Springfield, with local authorities having to deal with bomb threats and community evacuations as a result of the misinformation Trump spread during his political rallies. Springfield’s residents, particularly its Haitian migrant community, have been left on edge by the former president’s inflammatory remarks.
Charleroi has its own Haitian migrant community, many of whom came to the United States legally through a federal humanitarian aid program. These migrants have made their home in the small borough, and for the most part, integrated into the community without incident. However, misinformation about the town’s growing migrant population has caused frustration among local leaders who are struggling to dispel rumors and false claims about crime and job loss associated with Haitian immigrants.
One such leader, Camera Bartolotta, a Republican state senator who represents Charleroi, has pushed back against the anti-immigrant rhetoric. Bartolotta recently took to social media to clarify that the Haitian migrants in Charleroi are here legally and to urge people to avoid spreading false information. “Check the facts before posting information that jeopardizes the safety of good, hard-working people,” Bartolotta wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
During the rally, Trump engaged with the crowd about the situation in Charleroi, asking rally-goers if they thought the town had changed due to the presence of migrants. Many attendees shouted back responses like “they’re everywhere!” and “it’s horrible!” Trump used these interactions to fuel his argument that the presence of migrants in small American towns is harming the fabric of those communities. He claimed that the influx of immigrants was straining municipal resources and making the town “not so beautiful” anymore.
Joe Manning, the borough manager of Charleroi, expressed concern about the potential consequences of Trump’s remarks. In an interview with WESA, a local NPR affiliate, Manning said he worried that Charleroi could become the next Springfield, Ohio, where Trump’s rhetoric has already led to a surge of tensions and safety concerns.
Trump’s anti-immigrant messaging extended beyond Pennsylvania and Ohio. During his rally on Monday, Trump also spoke about Venezuelan migrants in Aurora, Colorado, where he claimed—again, without evidence—that they had taken over an apartment complex and brandished guns. These exaggerated claims are part of a larger pattern in Trump’s speeches, where he frequently links migrants to violence, crime, and social instability, despite a lack of supporting data or evidence.
In Springfield, Ohio, Trump’s comments at a recent presidential debate about Haitian migrants have already had a significant impact. Some members of the Haitian community in Springfield have reported feeling unsettled and fearful after Trump aired his grievances about the city on a national platform. Following his statements, Trump supporters in Springfield rallied around calls to “send them back,” a chant that has become common at his events.
Trump’s language reflects a broader strategy to tap into fears about immigration in key states, especially those with large rural or industrial populations. His ability to frame migrants as a threat to small-town America continues to resonate with portions of his base, even though many of his claims have been debunked. Despite this, Trump’s rhetoric has real-world consequences for the communities he targets, increasing tensions and fostering divisions based on misinformation and fear.
As Trump continues to campaign ahead of the 2024 presidential election, his strategy of vilifying migrant populations in swing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio remains central to his efforts to galvanize voters. The long-term effects of his rhetoric on these communities remain to be seen, but for now, they continue to grapple with the fallout of his words.
