Foreigners eat pets: Why Trump claims this

The West Foreigners eat pets: Why Trump claims this Article by Marisa Lattemann • 59 million • 2 minutes reading time "Immigrants to the USA eat Americans' pets, refugees threaten German women as a hobby and Jews pull the strings of world domination in the background." Not only is all of this demonstrably a lie, it is a very special form of manipulation that quickly finds its way into people's minds. Donald Trump and Co. know exactly what they are doing - and it works. In his debate on the 2024 US election against Kamala Harris, Trump talks about foreigners eating pets. Laughable, you might think, or dangerously uninformed. In fact, however, the presidential candidate is hitting a certain note that is typical of him and other populist politicians. Trump and the pet drama: What's behind it? Behind Trump's statements is what is known as "othering". This means the following: Some people choose a certain group that should not belong to them because of certain characteristics. These are then "the others". These can be the East Germans, the Swabians, the asylum seekers or believers of another religion. But that is not enough. In "othering", these "others" are accused of terrible things that make them repulsive. This can be harmless, with the rest of Germany laughing at their Swabian neighbors because they are probably always cleaning. But it can also be the case that this creates an enemy image that does not actually exist. For example, right-wingers categorize asylum seekers as uncivilized, lazy, backward and criminal. These supposed characteristics then stick to this group. Trump causes a stir with bizarre statements on immigration: Why his words about pets and migrants are not only absurd, but dangerous. In the past, this phenomenon has led to the social exclusion of groups such as Jews, homosexuals and others. Historians today largely agree that this exclusion even encouraged the Holocaust. Nevertheless, there are still many politicians today who practice dangerous "othering". This even goes as far as conspiracy myths. Hate speech in the US election campaign escalates A very recent example is Donald Trump, who said in the TV debate against Kamala Harris: "In Springfield, people eat dogs and cats, they eat pets. It is a disgrace that this is happening in our country." Needless to say, these statements were denied by the local police. By launching such a conspiracy narrative, Trump portrays the immigrants to Springfield as uncivilized and unruly. As Trump supporters develop fear for their pinscher when their neighbor with an immigrant background walks past, the fronts between the groups are hardened.