Trump Targets Charleroi, Pennsylvania, With False Claims About Haitian Immigrants

Charleroi, PA — Former President Donald Trump has once again singled out a town with his controversial rhetoric, this time targeting Charleroi, Pennsylvania, with misleading and inflammatory claims about its Haitian immigrant community. Speaking at a rally in Tucson, Arizona, last week, Trump alleged that Charleroi had experienced a staggering “2,000 percent increase in the population of Haitian migrants under Kamala Harris,” sparking concerns among local officials.

In his speech, Trump further claimed that the influx of immigrants had left the small town struggling to accommodate a surge in students who do not speak English, leading to a scramble for translators and costing local taxpayers “hundreds of thousands of dollars.” He also suggested that the town was on the brink of bankruptcy due to these migrants and that the increase in population had led to a rise in crime.

However, these claims have been met with sharp rebuttals from local leaders. In a statement to *The Philadelphia Inquirer*, Charleroi Borough Manager Joe Manning refuted Trump’s assertions, calling them baseless and damaging to the town’s reputation. Manning clarified that while the town had seen an increase in population, the numbers were relatively small and manageable given the town’s previous size.

“The Haitian community in Charleroi is not a burden on the local government or our resources,” Manning said. “This is being blown out of proportion for political purposes.”

Manning explained that Charleroi, with a population of just over 4,300 as of 2022, had indeed seen a population increase. Still, it was due to immigration and not to the exaggerated extent that Trump claimed. Local officials pointed out that the immigrant population, many of whom are in the U.S. legally under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), are contributing members of society who pay taxes and own property.

Charleroi Area School District Superintendent Ed Zelich also dismissed Trump’s claims that the immigrant students were costing taxpayers significant amounts of money. Zelich explained that while there were initial challenges with language barriers, the school system had adequate resources to support new students, and the state’s Department of Education provided additional funding to accommodate the increase.

“We’re prepared for this. We have teachers and translators to assist the students,” Zelich said. “There’s always a cost in education, but these students are integrating well into our classrooms.”

Borough President Kristin R. Hopkins expressed concern over Trump’s remarks, calling them a divisive attempt to exploit Charleroi for political gain. In a statement, she condemned the use of fear and misinformation to attack the Haitian immigrant community, emphasizing that the town’s real economic issues were being overshadowed by political rhetoric.

“Trump chose to exploit our town for political purposes, unfairly targeting the Haitian immigrant community,” Hopkins wrote. “Rather than addressing the real challenges Charleroi faces, misinformation and fear are being used to divide us.”

Despite Hopkins’ call for unity, some local officials, including City Council Member Larry Celaschi, expressed a different view. Celaschi, speaking to Breitbart News, claimed that the influx of immigrants had impacted the town’s budget and that the school district was struggling to cope with the changes. However, other local officials or data have not supported these claims.

Like many others across the U.S., the Haitian immigrant community in Charleroi is protected under TPS. This federal program allows individuals from countries affected by conflict or natural disasters to live and work legally in the United States. Trump’s remarks appear to be part of a broader strategy to stir anti-immigrant sentiment ahead of the 2024 election, with Pennsylvania serving as a critical battleground state.

As Trump continues to push his anti-immigrant narrative, Charleroi’s officials and community leaders are working to combat the misinformation and ensure that the town remains a place of inclusion and opportunity for all its residents.

Stay tuned to The Midtown Times for updates on this developing story and its potential impact on Pennsylvania’s political landscape.