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Trump, Vance and American blood and soil

A myth about migrants eating pets masks a calculated political bet.

It is easy to suppose that Mr Trump will lose votes for indulging this pet-eating chimera. But his dark rhetoric masks a calculated bet.

It is easy to suppose that Trump will lose votes for indulging this pet-eating chimaera. But his dark rhetoric masks a calculated bet.

PHOTO: AFP

Edward Luce

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It has been raining cats and dogs in America. The myth that

immigrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio,

has triggered an outpouring of memes. An early example showed US presidential candidate Donald Trump hugging a kitten and a goose. These were soon swamped by plays on the absurdity of the claims. The silver lining to this postmodern version of blood libel is that humour remains an effective tool.

Beneath it, though, lies a momentous twist in American politics.

Trump, Vance and American blood and soil

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