Donald Trump called Colorado Governor Jared Polis a “weak and pathetic man” in recent remarks, defending former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters and claiming the governor was beholden to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Details of Trump’s Claims
- Insults to Polis: Trump specifically stated, “The governor of Colorado is a weak and pathetic man, who is run by Tren De Aragua, the criminals from Venezuela took over sections of Colorado, and he was afraid to do anything, but he put Tina in jail for 9 years”.
- Defense of Tina Peters: Trump has repeatedly defended Peters, who was convicted on state charges (including four felonies) in 2024 for a data breach of voting equipment she orchestrated in an attempt to prove unproven claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Trump has cast her as a “Patriot” and a “Political Prisoner”.
- Blame on Venezuelan Gangs: Trump has amplified claims about the presence of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) in Colorado, particularly in Aurora, suggesting they have “taken over sections” and that Gov. Polis has not acted against them.
Context:
- Polis’s Response: Governor Polis has dismissed the notion he is “run” by a gang as baseless and has stated that his administration has zero tolerance for illegal gang activity, welcoming federal help in pursuing criminals.
- Tren de Aragua Presence: While law enforcement has confirmed the presence of TdA members in Aurora and other U.S. states, local officials and police noted that claims of a total “takeover” of apartment complexes were exaggerated or primarily tied to property mismanagement, not gang occupation.
- Pardon Authority: Trump cannot pardon Tina Peters for her state-level crimes; the power to do so rests with the Colorado governor, who has not shown interest in the matter.
Peters’s Sentence: Peters was sentenced to nine years in state prison in October 2024. The Colorado Department of Corrections recently denied a federal request to transfer her to federal custody.
Watch Trump talking about this:
