Trump rally in Colorado: Live blog from Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora
Editor’s note: We’re live-blogging former President Donald Trump’s rally in Colorado today. Check here for updates.
3:03 p.m. — Trump concludes speech
To end the campaign rally, Trump used his staple phrase, “We will Make America Great Again,” as the crowd cheered in support.
3 p.m. — End sanctuary cities
Trump said Americans will be put first again — ahead of illegal immigrants, and “communists, Marxists, and Fascists,” he said.
At the federal level, Trump said he will put an end to sanctuary city policies, such as Denver’s.
2:44 p.m. — Operation Aurora
Trump said he would enact “Operation Aurora” immediately upon election.
Under Operation Aurora, the federal government would expedite the removal of “savage gangs” living in the country illegally, he said.
“We are a country under tremendous distress” he said. “We will send elite squads from ICE to deport every single gang member.”
If they come back, Trump said there would be mandatory 10-year prison sentences. If they killed or hurt American citizens and police officers, Trump said he would push for the death penalty.
2:40 p.m. — Trump says he’ll shut down CBP One app
For the first hour of his speech, Trump oscillated between the illegal immigration crisis at the border and the gang situation in Aurora and sought to tie the problems occurring at the border and America’s interior cities to the Biden-Harris administration’s policies. He promised to solve the situation.
“The border will be sealed,” he said, promising to shut down “Kamala’s app for illegals” within 24 hours.
Trump was likely referring to CBP One, which is how immigrants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border can preschedule appointments for asylum processing. It’s also the only way that Venezuelans, Cubans and a few other nationalities who seek travel authorization to obtain parole could submit biometric information to the Border Patrol.
2:30 p.m. — Every state is a border state
It’s no longer just Texas or Arizona, Trump said. Now, it’s all of America and people are living in “daftly fear.”
Under the leadership of Kamala Harris, Trump said the immigration problem will only get worse, adding that if elected, he’d work “really fast” to address it.
2:22 p.m. — Invites Aurora resident to stage
In painting the picture of what Aurora residents are going through, Trump mentions Aurora resident Cindy Romero. He says she lives in the apartment affected by gangs, adding locks to her door to stay safe.
On stage, Romero said, “We’ve got to get trump back in office. We’ve got to get it done. With Trump’s help we can get this state back.”
“Everyday citizens like Cindy are living in fear,” Trump said.
2:15 p.m. — Trump notes efforts in Colorado to remove him from ballot
The state Supreme Court sided with Trump’s critics in the case that sought to remove him from the Colorado ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately overturned the state court’s order. Trump called the high court “very brave and brilliant,” emphasizing that the ruling to keep him on the Colorado ballot was unanimous.
2:09 p.m. — Trump vows to get to work
Now America is known worldwide as “Occupy America,” Trump said.
Law enforcement can’t do the job they want to do because they are threatened constantly, he said.
“I make this pledge and vow to you – Nov. 5, 2024 will be Liberation Day in America,” he said. “I will rescue Aurora and every town that has been invaded and conquered. We will put this vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail and kick them out of our country. It’s going to happen very fast. Going to get them the hell out of our country.”
Continuing his attacks on Polis, Trump said if the governor had done his job, the situation in Aurora would not have happened.
2:02 p.m. — Trump shows viral video of alleged gang members barging into Aurora apartment units
Trump showed video snippets of alleged gang members barging into apartment units in Aurora.
“Where the hell did they get these guns?” he said before showing the video snippets that have gone viral over the last few months.
“Who gives them better guns than our military has?”
Just before showing the videos on the effects of illegal immigration, Trump called Colorado Gov. Jared Polis a “coward and a fraud,” who is ignoring the issues plaguing his communities.
“He’s pathetic,” Trump said of Colorado’s governor.
1:42 p.m. — Donald Trump walks on stage
Former President Donald Trump took the stage around 1:45 p.m.
Trump began his speech by noting the devastation wrought by Hurricane Milton.
“We are thinking of you and we’re praying for them. God bless them,” he said.
1:42 p.m. — Trump: ‘What are they doing to Colorado? They’re ruining your state.’
Trump didn’t take long to dive into what’s expected to be the theme of his campaign stop – illegal immigration and the Venezuelan gang that operated at apartment complexes in Aurora.
“What are they doing to Colorado? They’re ruining your state,” he said.
After introducing and thanking elected leaders such as U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Greg Lopez, Trump said, “In 25 days we are going to defeat Kamala Harris who has no clue what the hell is going on. She did a town hall and used a teleprompter. You don’t use them for town halls. She’s not the right person for this country, not for any country. Pretty soon she will make America Great Again.”
12:35 p.m. — Immigrants for Trump
Juan Pernia, an immigrant from Venezuela, wearing a Trump hat, said he has been in America for four years and hates politics, but he showed up because of the Biden administration’s immigration policies.
Pernia said he is here seeking asylum, and a few bad Venezuelans are making it hard for everyone else trying.
James Nzibu, an immigrant from Congo, said he has been in the U.S. for five years.
“Trump is going in the right direction, I believe,” he said. “He never gives in. He will make America great again.”
12:00 p.m. — Aurora Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky: Polis ‘woke me up’
Aurora Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky, who brought attention to allegations the Venezuelan gang had overtaken apartment complexes, said police officers came to her asking for help.
Jurinsky said she never imagined she would run for office but was motivated by restrictions imposed on her restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When Jared Polis shut my business down, he woke me up,” she said.
11:51 a.m. — Trump’s plane in Colorado
Former President Donald Trump’s plane is passing over Limon, Colorado, according to online flight tracking tool ADSBexchange.com.
11:45 a.m. — What supporters, protesters are saying
Thousands of people lined up to get into the rally Friday morning, wrapping about a mile beyond the entrance.
Robyn and Benjamin Boaz, from Douglas County, stood in line a few thousand people back. The Boaz pair works with teens with mental health issues, they said, and they’re voting for Trump because he cares about mental health.
Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Robyn Boaz said lockdowns made mental health much worse. Trump fought against those lockdowns, she said.
“The mental health crisis, the lockdowns exacerbated it greatly,” Boaz said.
Benjamin Boaz, who said Trump’s policies support people with mental health challenges and Kamala Harris’s do not, said he hopes everyone at the rally walks away knowing they are loved.
“I don’t care who you vote for or what your beliefs are,” Boaz said. “We are here and we care about you.”
Allen Wick, who was visiting from Riverside, California and watching his daughter’s dogs in Aurora, said he has heard all about the gangs in Aurora, but has not seen any of the violence.
“That doesn’t mean it’s not there,” Wick said. “I just had to ask my daughter which streets I should avoid to stay safe.”
11:45 a.m. — Trump claims about Aurora “hurt” city, residents, protester says
Meanwhile, a group of protesters took to the street corner, holding signs and engaging with those waiting in line, who shouted at them as they passed.
Tim Mullineaux, who was on the corner protesting with his wife and several others, said he works in Aurora and is in the city for much of his life. He lives nearby and grew up in the area.
“I work five minutes down the road. I’ve lived here my whole life, and Trump is going to share a bunch of lies,” Mullineaux said. “Our of state politicians are coming in and are going to hijack the narrative for their own ends.”
Luke, a lifelong Aurora resident who stood several thousand feet people back in line and was wearing a blue shirt in a sea of red, held a sign that read: “Aurora is a shining light and a beautiful place to live.”
“People are saying right now that Aurora is like a war zone,” he said. “Well, I live in Aurora and I don’t see the war zone. It’s a very diverse place and it’s beautiful.”
Luke Bollwerk, who is not voting for Trump in November, said the claims Trump has made about Aurora “hurt” the city and its residents.
“His presence here and his words have a big impact,” he said. “I hope while he’s here he sees that this is a beautiful place.”
11:15 a.m. — Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams cheered, booed
Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams was the first speaker to address the crowd, entering the stage to a mix of cheers and jeers.
“Donald Trump is here, he’s coming today to highlight the very real problem we have on the Southern border,” Williams said.
“Ballots are hitting the mailboxes as we speak,” Williams said before leading the crowd, chanting, “Fight, fight, fight.”
11 a.m. — Trump and Colorado have a history
Former President Donald Trump and Colorado have a history that led to a 9-0 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in March, rejecting state efforts to exclude him from the ballot. The court ruled that Colorado cannot enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment in the state Constitution for federal candidates.
10:52 a.m. — Stage signs send clear message on the day’s topic
There is no doubt about what the former president plans to talk about at the Aurora rally with signs that flank the podium with messaging such as: “DEPORT ILLEGALS NOW” and “END MIGRANT CRIME.”
10:30 a.m. — Traffic snarled around Gaylord Rockies Resort
Drivers trying to get to the Gaylord Rockies Resort this morning were met with significant traffic delays. The CDOT traffic map showed several dark red lines denoting extremely slow traffic speeds around 10 a.m. as the doors were opening for Donald Trump’s rally.
10:20 a.m. — U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez says speech still in progress
U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez, representing the 4th Congressional District, arrived at the Trump Rally, telling Colorado Politics he is still deciding what to say when he takes the stage ahead of Trump today.
10:15 a.m. — Trump’s pre-recorded message: Vote, avoid repeat of 2020
Former President Donald Trump has pre-recorded a message to supporters arriving at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center this morning — go out vote so there will not be a repeat of 2020.
10 a.m. — Trump supporters arrive at Gaylord Rockies
Hundreds of Trump supporters have begun lining up to get inside the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center, where former President Donald Trump will speak at 1 p.m. There was a lone protester standing by the highway on the way to the resort.
Speakers for the event are also arriving as 5th Congressional District nominee Jeff Crank caught up with Sen. Kevin Van Winkler and Douglas County Commissioner George Teal. Crank is scheduled to deliver brief remarks before Trump takes the stage today.
9:57 a.m. — Trump rally has Colorado searching online
Interest in Donald Trump’s rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort spiked Friday morning, according to data from Google Trends. The search term “Trump rally” exploded in the Denver area Friday morning, along with “Gaylord Rockies,” where the rally was scheduled to take place. There were also several related breakout searches asking when the rally started and how to get tickets. Answers to those questions can be found here on our FAQ page.
The Colorado cities that were most interested in finding information about the Trump rally on Google Friday morning included: Bennett, Strasburg, Ponderosa Park, Watkins, Milliken, Castle Pines, Brighton, Commerce City, Aspen Park and The Pinery, according to Google Trends data.
9:45 a.m. — Concrete convention at Gaylord continues
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association had long planned for a multi-day convention this weekend at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center. While its members certainly weren’t expecting 10,000 Trump supporters to crash the convention, a spokesperson said Gaylord officials are doing all they can to accommodate both parties.
“The facility is showing a clear commitment to support our group through whatever challenges may arise,” the spokesperson said of the estimated 1,400 attendees.
The Denver Gazette tried to reach a Ryman Hospitality Properties official for comment. Ryman, which owns the Gaylord, did not reply.
9 a.m. — Colorado election official to hold Q&A on ‘disinformation and election security’
Secretary of State Jena Griswold will hold a presser after Donald Trump’s rally in Aurora to “discuss disinformation and election security,” her office said. “Donald Trump has repeatedly made false statements about elections while campaigning,” her office said this morning.
“Donald Trump decided to visit Colorado to spread hatred of immigrants. Diversity makes us stronger not weaker. If Trump would actually visit Aurora, he’d find a vibrant and thriving city,” Griswold also said on X.
6 a.m. — Donald Trump to arrive in Colorado for a campaign stop today
Illegal immigration and the activities of a Venezuelan gang operating in metro Denver are expected to take the spotlight at a campaign rally this afternoon by former President Donald Trump.
Trump’s campaign has described Aurora — Colorado’s third-largest city — as a “war zone” that is suffering from an influx of violent gang members. It’s a theme Trump is expected to focus on when he speaks at 1 p.m. at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, a complex at the city’s northern edge near Denver International Airport. The rally will be Trump’s first public event in Colorado since early 2020.
Local officials, including the city’s Republican mayor, have rejected that assertion, maintaining that the operations of members of Tren de Aragua, a transnational gang with origins in Venezuelan prisons, were isolated and limited to a few apartment complexes.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, a former congressman, called Trump’s claims about the Venezuelan gang’s influence “grossly exaggerated,” and reiterated an invitation to give Trump an up-close view of the situation on the ground in Aurora.
Coffman does not plan to attend the rally.
5:30 a.m. — ‘Plan for the unexpected’
Local security experts weighed in the challenges of protecting former President Donald Trump — who has already faced two assassination attempts elsewhere — when he holds a campaign rally in Aurora on Friday.
The previous assassination attempts no Trump occurred at an outside rally in western Pennsylvania and on a golf course in Florida. His campaign stop in Aurora is an indoor event.
“There are pluses and minuses to both,” said Former Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen, who served as the city’s top police official from 2018 to 2022.
What would worry Pazen, he said, is the hotel — an upscale resort that sports a water park near Denver International Airport — on the property.
“Part of the challenge is you already have unvetted guests who have rented rooms months in advance,” Pazen said.
Pazen added: “You have to plan for the unexpected. That’s the key to all of this.”
An email to the Vice President Corporate and Brand Communications Ryman Hospitality Properties was not returned.
Paul Ballenger, an Army reservist and president of Auctus Security, a Denver based security firm, said he likes the location choice.
“Typically, there’s always exceptions to the rule, but overall, yes, an indoor event is going to be easier to secure,” Ballenger said.
Ballenger added, “It’s limited, so it’s easier to control.”
5 a.m. — Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky to speak at rally
While Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman will not attend former President Donald Trump’s rally on Friday, Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky, who has talked about the Venezuelan gang’s activities in her city with local and national media organizations, said she was asked to speak at the event.
Jurinsky said she did not have any further details about when or what she would speak about.
“It has been grossly overstated that the entire city of Aurora has been overrun by gangs,” Jurinsky said. “But I don’t want the situation downplayed because even one apartment complex taken over by this Venezuelan gang is one too many for me, and we have three.”
4:30 a.m. — ‘They welcomed immigrants with open arms’
Jurinsky and others have blamed Denver’s status as a “sanctuary city” for drawing nearly 43,000 immigrants to the region. Generally speaking, a sanctuary city refers to a designation given to municipalities and counties with policies that discourage local law enforcement from reporting an individual’s immigration status to federal authorities.
While no one knows with certainly how many immigrants have stayed in the Denver metro area, the number of plane, train and bus tickets suggest about half have stayed.
If true, that equates to about 21,455 immigrants.
That’s the equivalent of adding a city the size of Golden to the area in less than 22 months.
Jurinsky, who is slated to speak at the Trump rally, said Denver officials are culpable for influx and the ensuing gang situation in Aurora.
“They welcomed immigrants with open arms,” Jurinsky said. “But they didn’t help them. They placed them all in Aurora.”
As part of its response to the crisis, Denver created an asylum program to help temporarily support about 800 immigrants waiting on U.S. work authorization.
The crisis has cost Denver about $75 million, said Jon Ewing, a spokesperson for Denver Human Services, which has managed response.
Ewing pushed back on Jurinsky’s characterization, saying Denver “responded to a once in a lifetime crisis” that, without the city’s emergency support, would have left countless people homeless.
What is the schedule for Donald Trump’s rally?
Trump is scheduled to deliver his remarks at 1 p.m., though the former president may start speaking later. Doors are scheduled to open at 9 a.m. No other schedule details were provided.
How will Donald Trump’s visit to Colorado impact traffic?
The route former President Donald Trump will take to the event will likely not be disclosed in consideration of his personal safety. Expect traffic delays and possible road closures in the areas surrounding the Gaylord Rockies Resort around the time the former president is scheduled to arrive, speak and depart.
How will Donald Trump’s visit to Colorado impact air travel out of Denver International Airport?
It is unknown how former President Trump’s visit will affect air travel, if at all. A spokesperson for Denver International Airport on Tuesday told The Denver Gazette that authorities are unable to provide any information about the former president’s visit. The travel plans, including the location where the Trump campaign will land in Colorado, will likely not be shared with the public in consideration of the former president’s personal safety.
Find more details of the rally here.
Check out the rest of our coverage below:
Ground Zero: ‘The reality is here.’: Venezuelan immigrants at Aurora apartment invite Trump to visit them
Tall cameras on poles overlook several entrances and a courtyard at Aurora’s troubled Whispering Pines apartments. The parking lot has been cleared of garbage.
And the property — one of three complexes at the center of a debate about crimes at the hands of Venezuelan gangs — may soon go on the market.
Trump rally sold out
Tickets to attend former President Donald Trump’s Aurora campaign rally were no longer available Wednesday, according to a post on the campaign’s website.
Why is Donald Trump coming to Aurora?
Former President Donald Trump’s rally in Aurora this week promises to shine a focus on the Republican nominee’s immigration proposals amid competing conclusions about the role a Venezuelan gang has played in the Colorado city.
Describing Aurora, the state’s third-largest city, as a “war zone” suffering from an influx of violent gang members, Trump’s campaign announced on Monday that the candidate plans to address supporters on Friday afternoon at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, a complex at the city’s northern edge near Denver International Airport. The rally will be Trump’s first public event in Colorado since early 2020.
APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump (copy) (copy) (copy)
Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in Colorado | Complete coverage
Timeline of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in Colorado
