(The Center Square) – Former President Donald Trump is set to appear at a rally in Aurora, Colorado, on Friday.
The rally will be held at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, near the Denver International Airport, at 1 p.m., his campaign said this week.
During the first presidential debate last month, Trump mentioned Aurora following national attention over Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua’s presence in the city.
“You see what’s happening with towns throughout the United States. You look at Springfield, Ohio. You look at Aurora in Colorado,” he said. “They are taking over the towns. They’re taking over buildings. They’re going in violently. These are the people that [Kamala Harris] and Biden let into our country.”
The day after the debate, city officials dispelled the viral claims that members of the gang had “taken over” the city, The Center Square previously reported.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky said in a statement the gang’s activity was “limited to specific properties.”
“As for the perception and reality of public safety in Aurora, please understand that issues experienced at a select few properties do not apply to the city as a whole or large portions of it,” they said. “TdA has not ‘taken over’ the city. The overstated claims fueled by social media and through select news organizations are simply not true.”
The Trump campaign in its announcement on the rally referenced Aurora as a “war zone.”
“Kamala’s border bloodbath has made every state a border state, leaving Colorado families at the mercy of criminals,” the campaign said. “The only solution to stop the border crisis is to elect President Trump, who will secure the border, deport dangerous criminals, and Make America Safe Again.”
Shad Murib, Colorado Democratic Party chair, said in a statement posted on X: “The last time Donald Trump came to Colorado, he helped make certain Cory Gardner would lose his election, and he appears set to do the same to Republican candidates across the state when he visits Aurora this Friday.”
“Coloradans aren’t fooled: Trump isn’t coming to Aurora to talk about lifting up working people and creating a safer, more prosperous America; Trump is coming to spew hatred and division that’s not reflective of the Colorado we fight for every day,” he said.
