During a tense interview on ABC’s This Week, Ohio Senator and Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance had a heated exchange with host Martha Raddatz after she fact-checked a statement from Donald Trump. The former president had claimed that Venezuelan gangs had “invaded and conquered” a city in Colorado, a claim that Raddatz swiftly debunked.
Raddatz pointed out that Aurora, the city Trump referred to, has a Republican mayor who had directly refuted Trump’s claims, saying the city and state were neither “taken over” nor “invaded” by migrant gangs. She pressed Vance on whether he still supported Trump’s exaggerated statements, which have sparked concerns about the city’s reputation and safety.
Rather than directly addressing the fact-check, Vance attempted to downplay the exaggeration, suggesting that there was some truth to Trump’s claim. “That means there’s gotta be some element of truth here,” Vance said, leaning on the idea that the mayor’s comments about apartment conflicts implied larger gang activity.
Raddatz wasn’t having it. She interrupted Vance to explain that the incidents were isolated to a few apartment complexes and that local law enforcement had responded appropriately. She stressed that this didn’t amount to the “takeover” Trump had described.
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Frustrated, Vance accused Raddatz of focusing too much on Trump’s language. “You seem more focused on nitpicking everything Donald Trump has said rather than acknowledging that violent gangs are affecting these communities,” he exclaimed.
Raddatz calmly concluded by restating her fact-check: “They did not invade or take over the city, as Donald Trump claimed.”
The tense back-and-forth reflects the ongoing Republican strategy of defending Trump’s controversial statements, no matter how outlandish they might be. Vance’s unwillingness to fully accept the reality of Trump’s exaggeration highlights how deeply tied many GOP figures remain to Trump’s narrative, even when it’s directly contradicted by local officials.
For voters, this exchange serves as another reminder of the disconnect between Trump’s rhetoric and on-the-ground facts. As the 2024 election approaches, fact-checks like this one will be critical in holding candidates accountable for spreading misinformation, especially when it has real consequences for communities across the country.
Watch the exchange below:
