Mike Coffman, the Republican mayor of Aurora, Colorado, fired back at former President Donald Trump Tuesday before the GOP presidential candidate’s planned visit to his town over false claims about its immigrant community.
Coffman issued a statement on his Facebook page criticizing the former president over his false comments that claimed, without any evidence, that crime was on the rise due to Venezuelan migrants.
Mike Coffman on Aug 1, 2017.
John Leyba/Denver Post via Getty Images
Trump, who first brought up the false claims during the ABC News presidential debate in September, is scheduled to visit the city Friday.
“The reality is that the concerns about Venezuelan gang activity have been grossly exaggerated. The incidents were limited to several apartment complexes in this city of more than 400,000 residents,” Coffman said in his statement.
Coffman offered Trump a chance to meet with local law enforcement and get more information about the city’s public safety.
“Former President Trump’s visit to Aurora is an opportunity to show him and the nation that Aurora is a considerably safe city – not a city overrun by Venezuelan gangs,” he said.
Aerial view of Aurora, Colo. in autumn
Jacob – stock.adobe.com
Following the debate, Coffman and Aurora City Council Member and Public Safety Chair Danielle Jurinsky released a statement about their investigations into the Tren de Aragua gang at the center of the claims.
The officials contended the gang’s “presence in Aurora is limited to specific properties.”
“To date, APD has now linked 10 people to TdA and has arrested eight of those people. Two of the eight individuals who were taken into custody were involved in a July shooting at one of the specific properties in the city that have experienced issues with TdA activity. In line with these arrests, we can also now confirm that criminal activity, including TdA issues, had significantly affected those properties,” Coffman and Jurinsky, also a Republican, said in the statement.
Despite the calls from officials to stop spreading exaggerated claims, Trump has continued to paint Aurora as a dangerous den on the campaign trail.
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at site of his first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania on Oct. 5, 2024.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Calling into the John Kobylt Show on KFI AM 640 on Tuesday, Trump doubled down on false and unsubstantiated anti-migrant rhetoric and lashed out against Coffman and other leaders.
“You have many cities that are worse than Aurora. The mayor, the governor of Colorado, a liberal Democrat, [have] no idea what to do. He has no idea, and they don’t want to speak up because they don’t want to speak up against about, you know, their government,” he said.
Aurora Mayor Responds to Trump’s Misleading Crime and Immigration Claims Ahead of Visit
As President Donald Trump prepares to visit Aurora, Colorado, Mayor Mike Coffman is speaking out against the president’s misleading claims about crime and immigration in the city. In a recent interview, Mayor Coffman addressed the inaccuracies in Trump’s statements and emphasized the need for accurate information when discussing these important issues.
One of the main points of contention between Mayor Coffman and President Trump is the president’s repeated claims that Aurora is a dangerous city with high crime rates. Mayor Coffman has been quick to point out that Aurora is actually one of the safest cities in Colorado, with crime rates that are lower than the national average. He has also highlighted the city’s efforts to reduce crime through community policing and other initiatives.
In addition to addressing crime rates, Mayor Coffman has also pushed back against Trump’s claims about immigration in Aurora. The president has often painted a picture of the city as overrun by illegal immigrants and plagued by crime as a result. However, Mayor Coffman has stressed that Aurora is a diverse and welcoming community that values its immigrant population. He has pointed to the contributions that immigrants make to the city’s economy and culture, and has emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level.
As President Trump’s visit to Aurora approaches, Mayor Coffman is hopeful that he can have a productive dialogue with the president about these important issues. He has expressed a willingness to work with the administration on solutions to crime and immigration challenges, but has also made it clear that he will not stand by while false information is spread about his city.
In conclusion, Mayor Mike Coffman’s response to President Trump’s misleading claims about crime and immigration in Aurora serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate information in public discourse. As political leaders, it is crucial that we base our statements on facts and data, rather than fear-mongering and misinformation. By standing up for his city and its residents, Mayor Coffman is setting an example for how leaders can push back against false narratives and advocate for truth and transparency in public discourse.
