JD Vance takes ABC anchor to task for downplaying Aurora, CO's Tren de Aragua problem by saying only a 'handful' of apartment complexes were taken over by the gang

GOP Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance clashed with ABC's This Week anchor Martha Raddatz after she attempted to minimize concerns about Venezuelan gang activity in Aurora, CO. The heated exchange came as Raddatz questioned former President Donald Trump’s claims that Aurora had been "invaded and conquered" by Venezuelan gangs.

In response to Trump’s comments, Raddatz cited the city’s mayor who disputed Trump’s remarks and claimed they were untrue. When Vance defended Trump’s assertions, Raddatz interrupted, clarifying that the incidents were limited to a "handful of apartment complexes" and that law enforcement had addressed the issue.

Vance quickly pointed out the inconsistency in Raddatz's response. "Martha, do you hear yourself?" he asked. "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?"

He further criticized Raddatz for focusing on Trump’s phrasing rather than acknowledging the seriousness of gangs taking over residential complexes in US cities. “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.”

Following Vance’s rebuttal, Raddatz attempted to shift the conversation, insisting, “Let’s just end that with they did not invade or take over the city as Donald Trump said.”

“Just a few apartment complexes, no big deal,” Vance sarcastically responded.

The interaction has prompted strong criticism against Raddatz as she purposefully tried to brand Trump’s metaphoric “invasion” comment as a lie while simultaneously admitting that more than apartment complex, as in multiple apartment buildings each, had indeed been taken over by violent gangs. When Vance called her out on it, she then tried to downplay the severity by labeling it as only a “handful.”

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman called Trump’s comments about gang activity “grossly exaggerated” because the "incidents were limited to several apartment complexes in this city of more than 400,000 residents."

The comments surround an incident that took place in August when footage showed armed Venezuelan gang members take over an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado. The video showed the gang walking around the residences with guns, and a shootout later followed that left one person injured and multiple vehicles with bullet holes in them.

At first, many local officials tried to downplay or outright deny the gang activity taking place. Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ office previously called the incident “imagination.” However, Polis later appeared on CNN where he acknowledged the situation and said that Aurora police departments were "on the frontlines."