Trump Draws Backlash After He Suggests Iran Could Target California
Sandego.net – Trump draws backlash after he suggests that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles or San Diego while defending the continuing war with Iran. The president made the remarks at a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, ahead of the midterm elections.
President Donald Trump portrayed the conflict’s consequences as a limited price for U.S. and global security. He argued that the alternative could be much worse if Iran were able to attack a major American city.
“Let, let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” Trump said.
Trump also said the war’s costs would be temporary and predicted that the conflict would end soon.
“This is a very small price to pay and it’s gonna be over with very soon,” Trump said.
California Officials Condemn the Remarks
Trump draws backlash after he suggests Los Angeles and San Diego could be discussed as potential losses in a military conflict. Elected officials in both cities said American communities should not be treated as expendable in arguments about national security.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and longtime Trump critic, called the president “deranged and dangerous.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the language could have consequences for the city’s safety.
“The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives,” Bass said.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said residents of his city should not be viewed as collateral damage in a foreign war.
“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,” Gloria said.
The criticism also included Republican congressional candidate Jim Desmond, who is seeking election in California’s 48th Congressional District. Desmond said the United States must oppose Iran and defend its interests, but said protecting Americans and the homeland must remain the commander in chief’s foremost responsibility.
“No American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage,” Desmond said.
Trump Defends the War’s Costs and Timeline
Trump has repeatedly described higher gasoline prices as an acceptable sacrifice tied to the war in Iran. At the Nebraska rally, he contrasted those economic effects with the far more severe possibility of an attack on a major U.S. population center.
Los Angeles and San Diego are among the nation’s largest cities and play major roles in California’s economy, culture and daily life. Their mention in the context of a foreign attack intensified criticism because millions of residents were placed at the center of a political debate over the war’s cost.
The White House was asked to clarify what Trump meant when he named the two cities. No additional explanation was included with his rally comments.
The dispute also unfolded amid Trump’s longstanding clashes with California leaders over immigration policy, election issues and wildfire responses. Those tensions added to the reaction from state and local officials.
The president again predicted that the war would end shortly, even though the conflict has continued for seven months. Trump had initially said it would last only a few weeks.
Last week, Trump offered a revised explanation for that earlier estimate, saying the four-to-six-week timeframe referred to eliminating Iran’s nuclear threat rather than ending the full conflict. Critics have questioned how long the war will continue and what its effects will be on Americans.
FAQ for Los Angeles and San Diego Residents
What did Trump say about Los Angeles and San Diego?
Trump said, “Let, let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” while arguing that the war with Iran was a small and temporary price to pay for security.
How did local leaders respond?
Newsom, Bass and Gloria condemned the comments. Bass said a president should protect the country, while Gloria said San Diego was not collateral damage and was not expendable.
Did the White House provide further clarification?
The White House was asked about Trump’s intended meaning, but no additional explanation was included with the rally remarks.
