Vance, ABC host spar over claims of Venezuelan gang in Colorado

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (Ohio) and ABC News’s Martha Raddatz argued Sunday over former President Trump’s claims of Venezuelan gangs in a Colorado city.

Raddatz asked Vance when he joined “This Week” if he supports Trump’s remarks about the gangs’ presence in Aurora, even after the Republican mayor said they were “grossly exaggerated” claims that have hurt the city.

“Well, Martha, you just said the mayor said they were exaggerated. That means there’s gotta be some element of truth here,” Vance said.

Vance pointed to Trump’s Friday visit to Aurora, where he was “talking to people on the ground.”

The former president held a rally there, which he called a “war zone.” As part of his immigration rhetoric, Trump amplified reports about a Venezuelan gang taking over an apartment complex in the city. State and local leaders have pushed back on his comments.

“What we’re hearing, of course, Martha, is that people are terrified by what has happened with some of these Venezuelan gangs,” Vance said Sunday.

Raddatz interrupted Vance.

“I’m going to stop you,” she repeated. “The incidents were limited to a handful of apartment complexes, and the mayor said our dedicated police officers have acted on those concerns. A handful of problems.”

“Martha, do you hear yourself?” Vance questioned. “Only a handful of apartment complexes in America were taken over by Venezuelan gangs and Donald Trump is the problem? And not Kamala Harris’s open border?”

Vance continued, noting that Americans are “so fed up with what’s going on, and they have every right to be.”