Father of Ohio Boy Killed in Bus Crash Condemns Trump and Vance for Using His Son’s Death for Political Gain

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO – The father of 11-year-old Aiden Clark, who tragically lost his life in a school bus accident last year, has publicly denounced politicians Donald Trump and JD Vance for using his son’s death to further their political agendas. Nathan Clark, Aiden’s father, made an emotional statement during a Springfield City Commission meeting, asking for his son’s name to be left out of political debates

Aiden Clark was killed when the school bus he was riding collided with a minivan driven by Hermanio Joseph, a Haitian immigrant. The accident left 23 others injured and resulted in Joseph being convicted of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide, for which he was sentenced to 9 to 13.5 years in prison.

However, recent comments by political figures have turned Aiden’s death into a focal point for discussions about immigration policies. During a series of social media posts, JD Vance and the Trump campaign referenced the accident to criticize current U.S. immigration policies. Vance falsely claimed Aiden was “murdered by a Haitian migrant,” a statement that Nathan Clark firmly refuted.

“My son Aiden Clark was not murdered,” Nathan stated. “He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti. This tragedy is felt all over the community, but it should not be twisted into hate.”

Clark’s plea to Trump and Vance, along with other political figures like Bernie Moreno and Rep. Chip Roy, was clear: stop using his son’s death for “political gain.” He further criticized the spread of false rumors about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, which have stirred up anger and hate in the community.

Political Exploitation of Tragedy

Nathan Clark and his wife, Danielle, have faced continuous media attention and public debate surrounding their son’s death. Despite their repeated requests, several politicians have used the incident to highlight issues related to immigration. In particular, Trump and Vance have linked the tragedy to broader conversations about the border crisis, immigration laws, and even baseless claims about Haitian immigrants harming pets in the local area.

“This needs to stop now,” Clark said during the meeting. “They can spread all the hate they want about illegal immigrants and the border crisis, but they are not allowed to mention my son’s name.”

A Call for Compassion and Unity

Nathan Clark urged the community and the nation to embrace compassion and unity, rather than using tragedies to spread division. “In order to live like Aiden, you need to accept everyone, choose to shine, make a difference, lead the way, and be the inspiration,” he stated. He called for an end to hate speech and misinformation targeting immigrant communities.

Clark’s plea reflects a desire for healing and respect for his son’s memory, free from the vitriol of political battles. He expressed the pain of having his family’s worst day repeatedly used for political purposes, urging politicians to reconsider their words and actions.