When future generations study the 2024 US Presidential debate, they will wonder how the feline became such a prominent topic during, before, and after the debate. Not since ancient Egypt, where cats were worshipped, and the Goddess Bastet is depicted with a cat’s head, has the feline been so central in the nation’s politics. For that, we have to thank
Taylor Swift,
Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the most bizarre anti-immigrant rumour the MAGA crowd has concocted.
1. Childless Cat Lady The much-awaited endorsement from Swift came the night following a debate, in a message that was clearly a sharp rebuke of Trump and his supporters. After watching the debate, Swift said that the fake AI image of her endorsing Trump had prompted her to speak out. She wrote: “It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.” She continued: “I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first-time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story.”
She concluded by declaring: “I will be casting my vote for
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader, and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.” The most cutting remark came when she referred to herself as the "Childless Cat Lady," clearly in response to JD Vance, who had criticised single, childless women, a stance that MAGA was reinforcing.
JD Vance quickly realised the backlash from Swift’s fanbase after his previous comments about “childless cat ladies” resurfaced once Biden dropped out and endorsed Harris.
In July 2021, Vance defended a speech he gave at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, where he criticised prominent Democratic leaders as part of the “childless left” and argued that they lacked “a physical commitment to the future of this country.” Vance stated, “Our country is effectively run by Democrats and corporate oligarchs, many of whom are childless cat ladies. They’re unhappy with their own lives and choices, and they want the rest of the country to feel miserable too. Just look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC—the entire future of the Democrats is in the hands of people without children. How does it make sense that we’ve entrusted the country to people who don’t have a direct stake in it?”
He further suggested that a "healthy ruling class" should prioritise electing people with children, whom he believed had a more personal investment in the country’s future.
2. Haitians Eating CatsA baseless claim that illegal immigrants from Haiti have been eating domestic pets in a small Ohio city has been repeated by Donald Trump.
During ABC's presidential debate, Trump said: "In Springfield, they are eating the dogs. The people that came in, they are eating the cats. They’re eating – they are eating the pets of the people that live there."
But city officials have told BBC Verify there have been “no credible reports" that this has actually happened.
The baseless claim had spread on social media, with Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance promoting it on X. As of Wednesday, the post has had more than 11 million views. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called Vance's comments "dangerous" and a "conspiracy theory... based on an element of racism."
It became so big that even Donald Trump repeated the lie during his first debate against Harris. The controversy began after right-wing users on social media found that 27-year-old Allexis Telia Ferrell had been charged with animal cruelty for injuring animals, violating companion animal protections, and disorderly conduct. Ferrell allegedly killed a cat by stomping on its head and then consumed the animal in front of witnesses on 16th August, as reported by Fox News.
The incident happened in Canton, Ohio, where police confirmed Ferrell's arrest. She allegedly carried out the act in a residential area, shocking neighbours. Despite Ferrell being in the U.S. for several years, conservative social media accounts quickly linked the event to immigration, particularly from Haiti. One post said, “When you let a 3rd world country into your country, you become a 3rd world country. Close the border and save our cats.” Another post suggested, “If you like ducks or cats, Trump’s your only choice in November. Otherwise, they’re dinner for Kamala’s illegal Haitians.”
The Springfield Police Division stated on Monday morning that they had no reports of pets being stolen and eaten. The police were aware of the social media claims but said, "This is not something that’s on our radar right now."