Senator JD Vance of Ohio is standing by former President Donald Trump and his false claims that Venezuelan gangs have “invaded and conquered” Aurora, Colorado. Trump has repeatedly stated that criminal migrant gangs have taken over the city, referring to it as a “war zone.” The Aurora Police Department has refuted these allegations, with Mayor Mike Coffman calling them “grossly exaggerated.” Despite this, Vance struggled to respond when confronted with these facts by Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week.” He attempted to defend Trump’s claims, blaming Democratic nominee Kamala Harris for the issues in Aurora.
During a rally in Aurora, Trump vowed to “rescue” the city and other towns that he claims have been “invaded and conquered” by criminals. Despite pushback from local officials and law enforcement, Trump reiterated his false claims. Vance supported Trump’s statements, arguing that there must be some truth to them since the mayor said they were exaggerated. However, Raddatz pointed out that the issue was limited to a few apartment complexes and that the city’s police force had addressed the concerns. Vance continued to blame Harris for the problems in Aurora, citing her role in reversing Trump’s border policies.
Vance accused Raddatz of nitpicking Trump’s words and focusing on his statements rather than acknowledging the issues with violent gangs taking over apartment complexes in the US. He claimed that the problems were a result of allowing unvetted individuals into the country, referencing Harris’s executive orders that reversed Trump’s border policies. Despite his attempts to deflect blame, Raddatz ended the discussion by affirming that Aurora was not invaded or taken over by Venezuelan gangs, as Trump had claimed. The conversation highlighted the ongoing debate over immigration and border policies in the United States.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s false claims about Aurora brought attention to the issue of criminal migrant gangs and the impact of rhetoric on local communities. Vance’s defense of Trump’s statements and attempts to shift blame onto Harris reflect the broader political divide on immigration issues. The clash between Raddatz and Vance underscores the challenges of addressing complex issues like border security and criminal activity in a politically charged environment. In the end, the discussion did not resolve the underlying problems in Aurora but instead highlighted the deep divisions in American politics over immigration and law enforcement.
