Vance isn’t holding back. He’s not going to let the mainstream media control the narrative in favor of the Democrats.
And JD Vance just shut down a Leftist news host for making this ridiculous claim.
JD Vance Clashes with ABC’s Martha Raddatz Over Venezuelan Gangs in Colorado
On Sunday, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance engaged in a heated exchange with ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz during an interview on This Week, after she attempted to fact-check his statements regarding the presence of Venezuelan migrant gangs in Aurora, Colorado.
The tension arose following former President Donald Trump’s rally in the Denver suburb, where he claimed that the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a notorious Venezuelan crime syndicate, had “overrun” the city. Trump, 78, expressed concerns over the gang’s activities, which he said were emblematic of the dangers posed by lax immigration policies.
Raddatz, 71, pushed back on Trump’s assertion, citing local officials’ reports. “The incidents were limited to a handful of apartment complexes — apartment complexes and the mayor said, ‘Our dedicated police officers have acted on those concerns,’” Raddatz said.
Visibly frustrated, Vance, 40, shot back, “Martha, do you hear yourself? 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 used the moment to highlight what he sees as a growing frustration among Americans. “Americans are so fed up with what’s going on, and they have every right to be. I really find this exchange, Martha, sort of interesting because you seem to be more focused on 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.”
Raddatz tried to clarify her point, emphasizing that Trump’s claim was an exaggeration. “TdA did not invade or take over the city, as Donald Trump said,” she responded.
But Vance quickly dismissed her correction, replying sarcastically, “A few apartment complexes, no big deal.”
The gang’s presence in Aurora has been a concern for local law enforcement. At least 10 individuals with ties to TdA were arrested in September for crimes, including extortion, child pr*stitution, and other violent activities, centered around the Whispering Pines Apartments.
A Denver law firm confirmed that the gang had gained a “stranglehold” on the complex, shedding light on the growing threat. TdA is estimated to have around 5,000 members across the US and Venezuela.
Vance seized on this to make a broader argument about border security. “We’ve got to get American communities in a safe space again,” he said. “And 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.”
At his rally on Friday, Trump vowed to address the gang problem aggressively, promising to “send elite squads of ICE, Border Patrol, and federal law enforcement officers to arrest and deport every last illegal alien gang member until there is not a single one left in this country.”
Raddatz’s fact-check referenced comments from Aurora’s Republican Mayor Mike Coffman, who had rebuked Trump’s characterization of the city.
“The city and state have not been ‘taken over’ or ‘invaded’ or ‘occupied’ by migrant gangs,” Coffman said. “The incidents that have occurred in Aurora, a city of 400,000 people, have been limited to a handful of specific apartment complexes, and our dedicated police officers have acted on those concerns and will continue to do so.”
You can watch JD Vance’s comments with Martha Raddatz, below:
NEW: JD Vance torches ABC’s Martha Raddatz after she minimized the illegal immigrant gang takeovers because “only a handful” of apartments complexes have been seized.
Raddatz: “The incidents were limited to a handful of apartment complexes…”
Vance: “Do you hear yourself? Only… pic.twitter.com/TPXdNTD5UH
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 13, 2024
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