White House defends Trump comment to let Iran 'take out' LA and San Diego
Donald Trump's remark that Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego has sparked fierce backlash from California politicians - and a strongly worded rebuttal from the White House.
According to the White House, however, Trump was saying that American cities would have been threatened by Iran had he not launched a war there earlier this year.
Trump, while speaking on Monday in Nebraska about the Iran conflict, said: "It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego."
The morning after Trump's statement, Governor Newsom announced that the "dangerous - if not treasonous" statement had prompted him to direct California's State Threat Assessment Center to "monitor the situation in the event that foreign actors interpret the remarks as an invitation" to target California.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria wrote that the city was not collateral damage in a post on X, while demanding Trump keep it out of his "reckless war talk".
In a post on X, White House Communications Director Stephen Cheung described the "media freakout" over Trump's comments as "not rooted in reality".
The president and other administration officials often claim that disrupting Iran's nuclear programme was essential for US national security, and that any issues that have stemmed from the conflict were necessary.
"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," the account added.
It is also where Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is located, a base which 70,000 service members and civilians work at.
It is home to the space system command headquarters of the US Space Force, as well as the Los Angeles Air Force Base.
Trump and Newsom met when the president visited California in January after the state was hit by wildfires
This not the first time the US president and California governor, who may run for president in 2028, have publicly clashed.
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- Donald Trump's remark that Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego has sparked fierce backlash from California politicians - and a strongly worded rebuttal from the White House.
- According to the White House, however, Trump was saying that American cities would have been threatened by Iran had he not launched a war there earlier this year.
- Trump, while speaking on Monday in Nebraska about the Iran conflict, said: "It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego
- The morning after Trump's statement, Governor Newsom announced that the "dangerous - if not treasonous" statement had prompted him to direct California's State Threat Assessment Center to "monitor the situation in the event that foreign act
- San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria wrote that the city was not collateral damage in a post on X, while demanding Trump keep it out of his "reckless war talk".