Senator JD Vance defended former President Donald Trump's remarks about Venezuelan gangs overrunning Aurora, Colorado, during a heated exchange with ABC's Martha Raddatz on Sunday. Vance, standing by Trump's statements, clashed with Raddatz, who attempted to downplay the extent of the gang's influence in the Denver suburb, a topic that has become a flashpoint in the 2024 election campaign.
During the interview on "This Week," Raddatz challenged Vance over Trump's assertion that Venezuelan gangs, particularly the notorious Tren de Aragua (TdA) crime syndicate, had "invaded" the city. Raddatz cited Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, who characterized the claims as "grossly exaggerated," stating the incidents had been isolated to a few apartment complexes and were effectively handled by law enforcement.
"Martha, do you hear yourself?" Vance retorted, appearing incredulous. "Only a handful of apartment complexes? This is America, and we're talking about violent gangs taking over parts of cities. And instead of focusing on that, you're nitpicking Trump's words?"
The crux of the debate revolves around whether Trump and Vance's portrayal of Aurora as being overtaken by criminal gangs is an accurate reflection of the situation. In September, at least ten members of the Tren de Aragua gang were arrested at the Whispering Pines Apartments complex in Aurora, following a months-long investigation into extortion, child prostitution, and other criminal activities. The gang, which originated in Venezuela and is believed to have around 5,000 members spread between Venezuela and the U.S., has caused concerns among local residents, but Aurora officials insist the problem is contained.
Vance, who is campaigning as Trump's running mate in the 2024 election, argued that these incidents highlight the broader issue of unchecked immigration, which he attributes to Vice President Kamala Harris' handling of the southern border. "When you let millions of people into the country, many of whom are unvetted, you're going to have problems like this," Vance said. He emphasized the need to secure American communities from gang violence and reiterated Trump's plan to crack down on illegal immigration.
During a rally in Aurora on Friday, Trump announced "Operation Aurora," a plan to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target undocumented immigrants linked to gang activity. "We will rescue Aurora and every other town that has been invaded by gangs," Trump told his supporters, vowing to use elite squads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol to arrest and deport gang members.
However, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman pushed back against these claims, stating that the gang problem has been overstated. "The city and state have not been taken over or invaded by migrant gangs," Coffman said. "These incidents are limited to a handful of apartment complexes, and our dedicated police officers have addressed those concerns." Coffman also expressed disappointment that Trump did not spend more time seeing the city and understanding the full context of the situation.
Coffman's rebuttal underscores the broader political divide over how immigration and crime are framed in the lead-up to the 2024 election. Trump's tough-on-crime messaging resonates with many of his supporters, while local leaders like Coffman emphasize that sensationalizing the issue does more harm than good. "The reality is that the concerns about Venezuelan gang activity have been grossly exaggerated and have unfairly hurt the city's identity and sense of safety," Coffman said after Trump's rally.
This is not the first time Trump's rhetoric on crime and immigration has drawn criticism for being alarmist. During his 2016 campaign, Trump made similar claims about Mexican gangs and criminal activity along the U.S. southern border. His strategy of linking immigration to crime has been a central theme in his political messaging, appealing to voters who are concerned about national security and law enforcement.
Still, Vance maintained that Trump's comments were rooted in reality. "If the problem is exaggerated, it means there's still a problem," Vance said. "We can't ignore the fact that violent gangs are operating in American cities, and we need leadership that takes that threat seriously."
