Father of Ohio Boy, 11, Killed in Accident with Haitian Driver Begs Trump and Vance to Stop Using Son as Pawn to 'Spew Hate'

Mar. 15, 2025

An Ohio man whose son was killed ina 2023 school bus crashinvolving a Haitian immigrant called onDonald Trump,J.D. Vanceand other conservative politicians to stop invoking his child’s name for political gain.

Nathan Clark, the father of 11-year-old Aiden Clark, denounced the “reprehensible” use of his son’s death in Springfield, Ohio, to stir up hatred toward immigrants.

“The last thing that we need is to have the worst day of our lives, violently and constantly shoved in our faces,” Nathan told the Springfield City Commission on Tuesday, Sept. 10, NBC affiliateWDTNreported. ”But even that’s not good enough for them. They take it one step further. They make it seem as though our wonderful Aiden appreciates your hate. That we should follow their hate.”

“And look what you’ve done to us. We have to get up here and beg them to stop,” Clark continued.

“Using Aiden as a political tool is, to say the least, reprehensible for any political purpose. And speaking of morally bankrupt…politicians Bernie Moreno, [Texas Rep.] Chip Roy, J.D. Vance and Donald Trump then spoke in my son’s name and used his death for political gain. This needs to stop now.”

Republican White House nominees Donald Trump and J.D. Vance at the RNC on July 16, 2024.Jim WATSON/getty

Jim WATSON/getty

On Aug. 23, 2023, a child — later identified as Aiden Clark — was killed when the school bus he was on collided with a minivan in German Township, Clark County,authorities said at the time. More than two dozen others were injured in the incident, which happened on the first day of classes.

The incident recently ignited the hot-button issue of immigration in Springfield, especially concerning Haitian migrants. Vance, a U.S. senator representing Ohio and Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election, spread a previous false claim from far-right supporters that Haitian migrants in Springfield were snatching and eating pets,NPRreported.

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on the debate stage in Philadelphia on Sept. 10, 2024.SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“The people on television say my dog was taken and used for food,” Trump responded, which prompted Muir to reiterate that there was no evidence of that based on what the Springfield official told ABC News.

He also asked why Aiden should be linked with any problems in Springfield, adding: “Did you know that one of the worst feelings in the world is to not be able to protect your child? Even worse, we can’t even protect his memory when he’s gone.”

“I said to Aiden that I would try to make a difference in his honor,” he said. “This is it. Live like Aiden. Thank you.”

PEOPLE reached out to a Trump representative for comment on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

On Sept. 10, Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced that he would send law enforcement and money for health resources to Springfield amid the city’s influx of temporary Haitian migrants, theAssociated Pressreported. DeWine’s announcement came before the start of the Harris-Trump debate that same day.

source: people.com