This is what the mayor of Aurora says before Trump's visit

Allegations that Venezuelan gangs are taking over Aurora, Colorado, described as “greatly exaggerated” by the city's mayor, are back on the national stage after a series of Trump campaign appearances over the weekend.

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance repeated the claims in an exchange with ABC News anchor Martha Raddatz on Sunday and stood by the allegations. Speaking to the Ohio senator on “This Week,” Raddatz asked Vance if he supported former President Donald Trump's comments about immigrants being “invaded” in the Colorado city. Trump made the claim against Vice President Kamala Harris at the September presidential debate, and USA TODAY previously reported that Republican Mayor Mike Coffman disputed the suggestion that gang members had “taken power,” calling it “exaggerated.”

Vance told Raddatz that if the claims are exaggerated, “that means there has to be an element of truth here.”

“I’m going to stop you because I know exactly what happened,” Raddatz says. “The incidents were limited to a handful of apartment complexes.”

“Do you hear yourself? A handful of apartment complexes in America have been taken over by Venezuelan gangs?” Vance responds, accusing Raddatz of “turning Trump on his head.”

More: In his search for voters, Donald Trump is taking a dark approach to his pre-election rhetoric

Trump sheds light on allegations of a Venezuelan gang during a visit to Colorado

Trump blamed immigration problems on Harris at a rally in Aurora, Colorado, on Friday, calling the city a “war zone” for the alleged activities of Venezuelan gang members.

At the rally, Trump announced a new plan called “Operation Aurora” to remove undocumented immigrants associated with gangs using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

“I will save Aurora and every city that has been invaded and conquered,” Trump told the crowd. “We will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in prison or expel them from our country.”

Ahead of Trump's visit, Coffman said in a statement: “Former President Trump's visit to Aurora is an opportunity to show him and the nation that Aurora is a reasonably safe city – and not a city overrun by Venezuelan gangs.”

After Trump's visit, Coffman said he was disappointed that Trump couldn't see more of the city.

“I cannot emphasize enough that nothing was said Friday that has not been said before and that the city has not responded to with facts,” Coffman said in a statement shared with USA TODAY. “Again, the reality is that concerns about Venezuelan gang activity in our city – and our state – are grossly overblown and have unfairly hurt the city’s identity and sense of security.”

Contributor: Jonathan Limehouse

This is what the mayor of Aurora says before Trump's visit

ByVanessa

Trump sheds light on allegations of a Venezuelan gang during a visit to Colorado

By Vanessa

Related Post

The comet will be visible again around NYC this evening as October's full moon approaches. Find out when you can see them here.

“DWTS” fans react to “harsh” assessment of Olympian Ilona Maher

'He's obsessed': Why Donald Trump is willing to spend a fortune hosting a rally at MSG

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You missed

The comet will be visible again around NYC this evening as October's full moon approaches. Find out when you can see them here.

“DWTS” fans react to “harsh” assessment of Olympian Ilona Maher

'He's obsessed': Why Donald Trump is willing to spend a fortune hosting a rally at MSG

Mark Robinson sues CNN and a former porn store employee, claiming reports about him are defamatory • NC Newsline