Charleroi Manager Laughs at Trump’s Claims: ‘2,000% Population Increase? Not Even Close’

In a recent interview with The New Republic, Charleroi Borough Manager Joe Manning couldn’t help but laugh at some of the claims made by former President Donald Trump about Haitian immigrants in the small Pennsylvania town of Charleroi. Trump’s assertions, which were part of his ongoing rhetoric around immigration, seemed so exaggerated that Manning found them downright absurd.

Trump’s most outlandish claim, according to Manning, was that Charleroi, a town of approximately 4,000 residents, had experienced a “2,000 percent increase in population” due to an influx of Haitian immigrants. Such a massive rise in population would mean that Charleroi’s population would be close to 100,000 people, a figure Manning found comically impossible.

“It’s just laughable,” Manning said in response to Trump’s statement. “The actual number of Haitians living in Charleroi is somewhere between 700 and 800 people, far from what Trump is suggesting.” This figure puts the reality into perspective: while Haitian immigrants have certainly made their presence felt in Charleroi, the idea that they’ve caused a population explosion is not only inaccurate but also wildly misleading. Manning’s amusement at the claim underscores the disconnect between Trump’s narrative and the facts on the ground.

Immigrants Filling a Labor Gap, Not Taking Jobs

Trump also made claims that Haitian immigrants were stealing jobs from local Americans, further fueling his anti-immigration stance. However, Manning swiftly debunked this notion as well. According to Manning, many of the Haitian immigrants in Charleroi have found work at a local packaging plant, which had struggled to find workers.

“The owner of the plant couldn’t find enough local workers,” Manning explained, noting that the plant turned to an employment agency to help solve the labor shortage. “That agency brought in Haitians to fill those positions.”

Far from “stealing” jobs from local workers, the Haitians were actually filling a labor gap that had persisted for some time. Manning emphasized, “The plant is still looking for more workers—nobody’s job is being taken.”

This reality paints a different picture than Trump’s portrayal of immigrants as job usurpers. Instead, the Haitian workers have provided crucial support for local businesses that were struggling to meet their labor needs, helping to keep the town’s economy moving forward.

Immigrants Revitalizing the Community

In addition to filling jobs, Manning pointed out that the Haitian immigrants have contributed positively to the community by occupying homes that had long stood vacant due to population decline. “A lot of people moved out of here over the years, and the Haitians have helped revitalize the town by moving into these empty places,” he said.

Charleroi, like many small American towns, has seen its population dwindle in recent decades, with homes sitting empty as locals moved away in search of better opportunities. The arrival of the Haitian community has breathed new life into the town, bringing both economic activity and a renewed sense of vitality.

For a town that had faced years of decline, the contribution of Haitian immigrants is clear—they are helping to rebuild Charleroi in more ways than one. Manning’s candid responses highlight the vast gap between the narrative spun by Trump and the realities faced by small towns like Charleroi. As he put it with a chuckle, “The facts speak for themselves, and they’re a lot less sensational than Trump’s version.”