Donald Trump appeared to suggest that Iran should attack Los Angeles with a nuclear weapon.
The US President’s comments prompted condemnation from Californian politicians, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who labelled him “deranged and dangerous”.
Speaking at a rally in Nebraska, where he was campaigning before midterm elections, Trump defended the Iran war for “keeping the world safe” by preventing the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
He said: “They could take out a city. Let them take – Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.”
The comment prompted cheers from the crowd.
Referring to fuel prices, which have soared since the outbreak of war in February, the President continued: “This is a very small price to pay. And it’s going to be over with very soon. It’s essentially almost over with.
“And they might keep going a little long – you know, they always say they have a big threshold for pain. They need it, let me tell you.”
Trump faces losing control of Congress in November’s midterms, amid widespread discontent over inflation and rising fuel prices.
As of Tuesday, gasoline costs US$4.37 a gallon ($7.77), up from $3.13 ($5.57) a year ago, according to American Automobile Association data.
Newsom, who is seen as a likely contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, said in response: “Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego.
“He is deranged and dangerous.”
Karen Bass, the Los Angeles Mayor, accused Trump of making “irresponsible threats” and endangering residents.
She said: “The President of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles. His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety.
“The role of a President is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives.”
Todd Gloria, the Mayor of San Diego, said: “San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable. And we are never a ‘small price to pay’. Keep our city out of your reckless war talk.”
The White House later denied that Trump said Iran should attack the US cities insisting that the President was talking about the threat posed by Iran, branding the reaction to his comments a “media freakout” that was “not rooted in reality”.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said: “He was clearly stating US cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped.”
The White House’s Rapid Response account on X took issue with a Los Angeles Times headline saying Trump had suggested “letting Iran ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego”.
It said: “No, he didn’t, you buffoons. He was saying the US is fighting to stop Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon - which they would if they had the chance.”
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