Sen. JD Vance (Ohio) is sticking by Donald Trump and the former president’s false claims that Venezuelan gangs have “invaded and conquered” Aurora, Colorado.
On Sunday, the Republican vice presidential nominee tried to call out Martha Raddatz after she brought up facts that disputed Trump’s statements that criminal migrant gangs had taken over the city.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that Venezuelan gangs have “taken over” the Colorado suburb. He made the false statement again during a rally in the city Friday, when he also referred to the area as a “war zone.” The Aurora Police Department have refuted his allegations.
“I will rescue Aurora and every town that has been invaded and conquered. These towns have been conquered,” Trump said Friday, per CBS News. “Explain that to your governor; he doesn’t have a clue they’ve been conquered. And we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail or kick them out of our country.”
At the rally, Trump vowed to target migrants who he said are criminals and labeled his mission to return them to their native countries “Operation Aurora.”
Mike Coffman, the Republican mayor of Aurora, slammed Trump’s claims, calling them “grossly exaggerated” statements that “have unfairly hurt the city’s identity and sense of safety.”
On ABC’s “This Week,” Vance struggled to respond to Raddatz’s comment that only a “handful” of Aurora apartment complexes had actually been affected by Venezuelan gang activity.
“So, do you support Donald Trump making those claims that the Republican mayor says were grossly exaggerated and have hurt the city’s identity and sense of safety?” she asked. “I understand what you’re saying that some people left behind. But he’s making these statements that the mayor is flat-out disputing.”
The Republican vice presidential nominee argued that Coffman’s claim that Trump “exaggerated” meant there is some “element of truth” to Trump’s statements about Aurora.
When Vance tried to suggest that Trump heard concerns about the issue from people while “on the ground” at Friday’s rally, Raddatz immediately shut him down.
“I’m going to stop you because I know exactly what happened,” she interjected. “The incidents were limited to a handful of apartment complex — apartment complexes and the mayor said our dedicated police officers have acted on those concerns. A handful of problems.”
Vance then claimed that Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris was to blame for Aurora’s issues.
“Only a handful of apartment complexes in America were taken over by Venezuelan gangs, and Donald Trump is the problem and not Kamala Harris’ open border?” Vance argued.
Vance then accused Raddatz of “nitpicking” Trump’s words.
“You seem to be more focused with nitpicking everything that Donald Trump has said rather than acknowledging that apartment complexes in the United States of America are being taken over by violent gangs,” he told the host.
“Unfortunately, when you let people in by the millions, most of whom are unvetted, most of whom you don’t know who they really are, you’re going to have problems like this,” he continued.
Vance added: “Kamala Harris, 94 executive orders that undid Donald Trump’s successful border policies. We knew this stuff would happen. Bragged about opening the border, and now we have the consequences, and we’re living with it.”
Ultimately, Raddatz put an end to Vance’s claims by abruptly wrapping up their discussion.
“Let’s just end that with a, ‘did not invade or take over the city’ as Donald Trump said,” Raddatz said.
Watch the clip from “This Week” below.