Stoking Terror for Turnout

Trump has our attention on his favorite topic, no matter what harm he causes in the process.

Last week’s Presidential debate took a turn to the absurd when Donald Trump falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants are eating people’s cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio. The outrageous statement quickly went viral, inspiring memes and commentary about the “crazy uncle vibe” to Trump’s disastrous debate performance.

Pete Buttigieg claimed that there was a strategy behind Trump’s outlandish remarks, arguing it was designed to capture the public’s attention and distract us from Trump’s abortion bans, Project 2025, his felony conviction and indictments, and January 6th.

And while I agree with Buttigieg that we’re distracted from talking about Trump's failed record, harmful policies, and disqualifying character—I believe there is something more sinister at play.

When presented with opportunities to clarify or retract their remarks after Springfield officials and even Republican Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine debunked the false rumors, Trump and JD Vance doubled down and continued to fuel the racist lie against Haitian immigrants in Springfield. 

For them, this kind of rhetoric isn't about the truth—it's about stoking fear, mobilizing their base, and keeping the immigration issue front and center. No matter what harm it causes.

Their rhetoric has led to days of bomb threats at schools and hospitals, businesses shuttered, and reports of right-wing extremists like the Proud Boys and the Ku Klux Klan descending upon the city. The FBI is investigating these threats, and local residents, especially those in the Haitian community, are living in fear.

Quite simply what is happening in Springfield is terrorism. 

The classic definition of terrorism is the unlawful use of violence or the threat of violence, especially against civilians, in pursuit of political aims. 

You may have also seen the new-ish term “stochastic terrorism” which refers to political violence instigated through hostile public rhetoric directed at a group or an individual. Unlike direct incitement to terrorism (think UBL calling for attacks against America), the unique feature of stochastic terrorism is that it is accomplished through using indirect language to allow the instigator to distance themselves from the resulting violence.

Sound familiar?

Lies about Hispanic immigrants invading the United States led to the 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, killing 23 people and injuring 22 others in the deadliest attack to target Latinos in modern American history.

Lies about immigrants, Jews, and non-whites replacing whites are at the foundation of the “Great Replacement Theory” which led to the 2022 mass shooting targeting Black people at a Buffalo, New York grocery store, leaving 10 people dead.

Lies about the 2020 election being stolen led to violent insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6th in an effort to overturn the results of the election, resulting in multiple deaths and hundreds injured - mostly cops. 

Extremist rhetoric has the power to incite extremist violence.

Trump and Vance’s lies about Haitian immigrants in Springfield fit a broader pattern of dehumanizing entire groups and spreading lies to achieve a political end. They recklessly fan the flames of fear and division in an already fragile political environment to incite their supporters and shift the conversation.

Just this weekend, Vance admitted ‘creating stories’ about Haitian immigrants to generate attention. They’ve done so successfully. No matter the fear, hatred, and threats of violence that resulted, the conversation has shifted to immigration—a topic that energizes Trump’s core voters​.

In the NYT/Siena College (my alma mater) poll from early September, 53% of respondents believe Trump would do a better job on immigration than Harris (43%), driven largely by whites without a college education who at 67% prefer Trump on immigration by a wide margin. These are the voters Trump needs to turn out in November to win.

Trump’s campaign is no longer about expanding his appeal—it’s about driving voter turnout through viral, attention-grabbing fear of the “other,” particularly immigrants. His strategy is clear: mobilize his core supporters through fear, even if it requires lies and cruelty.

Trump has already begun targeting Haitian immigrants in a new town - in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania. He knows fear has the potential to drive votes that might make the difference in the election.

I’m a former counterterrorism guy, so you might imagine that anyone that might stoke terror for turnout is easily disqualified in my book.

But we all have the power to see through Trump’s extremist rhetoric for his transparent and weak attempt to capture our attention, our fear, and our vote.

Fear only wins when we allow it to. It's time to reject these tactics of terror and division. Now is the time to choose a future defined by hope, justice, and real security for all.