By NBC News
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
Donald Trump vowed to begin mass deportations in Springfield, Ohio, and downplayed a series of bomb threats made against the city at the center of baseless claims that he has spread about Haitian immigrants eating pets.
The former president repeated his promise at a news conference in California to carry out the “largest deportation” operation in the “history of our country,” if he’s re-elected, and said it would begin in Springfield, as well as Aurora, Colorado, another city that’s been the subject of dubious claims about migrants.
Bomb threats have forced school to close for the second straight day in Springfield. Asked about the threats, Trump waived off concerns. “No, no, no. The real threat is what’s happening at our border,” he told reporters.
Trump was also asked about his association with Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who has claimed 9/11 was “an inside job.” She flew to the debate on Trump’s plane and accompanied him to memorial services on September 11.
Trump called Loomer a “free spirt” and said he didn’t know anything about the conspiracy theories she has promoted. “I don’t know much about it, no I don’t. I know she’s a big fan of the campaign. I really don’t know.”
