US President Donald Trump has triggered a fresh political controversy after making remarks about Iran potentially attacking American cities, specifically naming Los Angeles and San Diego during a campaign rally in Nebraska.
Speaking at a rally in Grand Island on October 5, Trump was discussing the economic impact of the ongoing war with Iran and the higher prices facing Americans. He described those costs as a “small price to pay” for what he said was keeping the United States and the world safe.
POTUS then turned to the potential consequences of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. “They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” Trump said, according to multiple reports. The remarks were met with applause from some people in the crowd. He subsequently said the conflict was “essentially almost over” and predicted that it would end soon.
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Why did Trump mention California cities?
The US President’s comments came while he was defending US policy toward Iran and arguing that stopping Tehran from developing nuclear capabilities was necessary for American security.
The White House later pushed back against interpretations that POTUS was actually encouraging Iran to attack US cities. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said Trump was making the point that American cities could have faced such threats if Iran had been allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
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The distinction is important: there is no report that US President was announcing or permitting an actual Iranian attack on Los Angeles or San Diego. His comments were made in the context of a hypothetical threat involving Iran and nuclear weapons.
Gavin Newsom, California leaders hit back
California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them “deranged and dangerous.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also described the comments as dangerous and said the president should be focused on protecting Americans rather than suggesting that a foreign government attack an American city.
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San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria rejected the idea that his city could be treated as collateral damage, saying San Diego was not expendable.
The comments also drew criticism from at least some Republicans. California Republican congressional candidate Jim Desmond said he disagreed with Trump and argued that no American city should be considered expendable.
ALSO READ: Trump Threatens Economic Punishment on Countries Supporting Iran
What happens next?
The remarks come as the Trump administration continues to defend its Iran policy while Americans face economic pressures linked to the conflict.
For now, the controversy is centered on Trump’s language and its interpretation, rather than any confirmed Iranian plan to attack California. The White House maintains that Trump was warning about the danger a nuclear-armed Iran could pose to American cities, while his critics argue that explicitly naming Los Angeles and San Diego crossed a dangerous line.
Bottom line: Trump did not announce that Iran was going to bomb California. He made a hypothetical statement suggesting that an Iranian attack on Los Angeles or San Diego would be a price worth paying in the broader context of the conflict, triggering widespread backlash from California officials.
