DENVER (KDVR) — On Friday, former President Donald Trump spoke during a sold-out event at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in Aurora.
The visit comes after Trump said he would come to Aurora during a rally in Uniondale, New York on Sept. 18.
During the speech, Trump primarily focused on immigration and attacking his Democratic rival Kamala Harris.
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AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: People line up to hear Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speak at a rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center on October 11, 2024 in Aurora, Colorado. Trump is campaigning in key states ahead of the November 5 presidential election. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) -
AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: A line stretches across as field as people wait to get in to see Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speak at a rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center on October 11, 2024 in Aurora, Colorado. Trump is campaigning in key states ahead of the November 5 presidential election. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) -
AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: Members of Secret Service scan a crowd waiting to get in to see Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speak at a rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center on October 11, 2024 in Aurora, Colorado. Trump is campaigning in key states ahead of the November 5 presidential election. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) -
AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: People walk to get in line to see Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speak at a rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center on October 11, 2024 in Aurora, Colorado. Trump is campaigning in key states ahead of the November 5 presidential election. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) -
AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: Supporters of former President Donald J. Trump relax for a moment before the start of a campaign rally at Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado on October 11, 2024. The Republican presidential nominee spoke at a hotel convention center to a large crowd of around ten thousand people on the outskirts of Aurora making good on an earlier promise to visit the city he has labeled a war zone. On the debate stage; he made a statement about Venezuelan gang members taking over the city. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) -
AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: Cooper Gregory, 14, arrives in costume to hear former President Donald J. Trump speak during a campaign rally at Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado on October 11, 2024. The Republican presidential nominee spoke at a hotel convention center to a large crowd of around ten thousand people on the outskirts of Aurora making good on an earlier promise to visit the city he has labeled a war zone. On the debate stage; he made a statement about Venezuelan gang members taking over the city. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) -
AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: Cole Schmauder dressed up to see former President Donald J. Trump during a campaign rally at Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado on October 11, 2024. The Republican presidential nominee spoke at a hotel convention center to a large crowd of around ten thousand people on the outskirts of Aurora making good on an earlier promise to visit the city he has labeled a war zone. On the debate stage; he made a statement about Venezuelan gang members taking over the city. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) -
AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: Supporters of former President Donald J. Trump arrived early to a campaign rally at Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado on October 11, 2024. The Republican presidential nominee will speak at the hotels convention center to a crowd of around ten thousand people on the outskirts of Aurora making good on an earlier promise to visit the city he has labeled a war zone. On the debate stage; he made a statement about Venezuelan gang members taking over the city. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post) -
AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: U.S. Rep. Lauren Bobert (R-CO) waves to supporters before Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center on October 11, 2024 in Aurora, Colorado. Trump is campaigning in key states ahead of the November 5 presidential election. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) -
AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: U.S. Rep. Lauren Bobert (R-CO) waves to supporters before Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center on October 11, 2024 in Aurora, Colorado. Trump is campaigning in key states ahead of the November 5 presidential election. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) -
AURORA, COLORADO – OCTOBER 11: U.S. Rep. Lauren Bobert (R-CO) takes a photo with a supporter before Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center on October 11, 2024 in Aurora, Colorado. Trump is campaigning in key states ahead of the November 5 presidential election. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) -
Posters are displayed in easels before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) -
Colorado GOP chairman Dave Williams speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) -
Posters are displayed in easels before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) -
Colorado congressional candidate Jeff Crank speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) -
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) -
Rep. Greg Lopez, R-Colo., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) -
Cindy Romero speaks as Aurora city council member Danielle Jurinsky listens before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) -
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump poses for a photo with Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain before he speaks at a campaign rally at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Notable figures in attendance include Rep. Lauren Boebert, Colorado GOP chairman Dave Williams, and Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky.
Photos from the rally show posters of men who have been identified as members of the Tren de Aragua, as well as a man who pleaded guilty in a deadly DUI crash in Broomfield.
Trump proposes ‘Operation Aurora’ plan
Trump shared his proposal for a plan named “Operation Aurora” to remove immigrants in the country illegally who may be part of criminal gangs.
Ahead of the rally, FOX31 spoke to some Aurora citizens who are excited about his visit and some who aren’t, but most said they hope their city is represented well. Some residents hope Trump will take a boots-on-the-ground approach and visit problem apartments in the city.
The last time the former president was in Colorado was in August when he visited Aspen for a private fundraiser.
The Republican nominee has long promised to stage the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and has made immigration core to his political persona since the day he launched his first campaign in 2015. Over the last few months, Trump has pinpointed specific smaller communities that have seen large arrivals of migrants, with tensions flaring locally over resources and some longtime residents expressing distrust about sudden demographic changes.
How Aurora got on Trump’s radar
Aurora entered the spotlight in August when a video circulated showing armed men walking through an apartment building housing Venezuelan migrants. Trump has claimed extensively that Venezuelan gangs are taking over buildings, even though authorities say that was a single block of the suburb near Denver, and the area is again safe.
Ignoring those denials from local authorities, Trump painted a picture of apartment complexes overrun by “barbaric thugs,” blaming President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic rival.
“They’re ruining your state,” Trump said of the Democrats in the White House.
“No person who has inflicted the violence and terror that Kamala Harris has inflicted on this community can ever be allowed to become the president of the United States,” Trump added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.