(Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)
The White House pushed back Tuesday against a “media freakout” over President Donald Trump’s comments at a midterm rally that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego, saying Trump was describing the threat the cities could have faced from a nuclear-armed Iran.
Trump made the remarks Monday while campaigning with Republican candidates in Grand Island, Nebraska. The rally aired live on the free Newsmax2 streaming platform.
“I want to see a tremendous victory,” Trump said. “You want to see a tremendous victory because it verifies all the things we did. And again, remember with the war it’s just artificial, it’s a little bit high. 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. 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 longer. You know, they always say they have a big threshold for pain. They need it. Let me tell you, they need it, but it’s going to end very soon.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, led the criticism, telling The Hill on Tuesday that Trump is “mentally ill.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Trump’s remarks were “dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety.” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria told Trump to “keep our city out of your reckless war talk,” according to The Hill. Both are Democrats.
Trump also drew criticism from Jim Desmond, a Republican congressional candidate in the San Diego area, who said he “vehemently” disagreed with Trump’s comments while arguing that the United States must stand up to Iran.
“No American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage,” Desmond wrote on X.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote Tuesday on X that the “media freakout” over Trump’s comments “is not rooted in reality.”
“He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped,” Cheung wrote. “America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.”
The White House’s Rapid Response 47 X account separately called the Los Angeles Times “buffoons” while responding to a post saying Trump had suggested “letting Iran take out” Los Angeles and San Diego.
“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.
Trump has not directly addressed the criticism from California leaders.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday outside the White House after returning from a speech in Maryland, Trump was asked, “Mr. President, what did you mean by your comments yesterday about San Diego and Los Angeles possibly being wiped out by Iran?”
Trump dismissed the reporter’s question with a hand wave and moved on to another question.
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