California officials have erupted at President Donald Trump, branding him a “traitor” and condemning his remarks after he riffed about letting Iran “take out Los Angeles” and “take out San Diego” while discussing the ongoing war with the Islamic regime.
Trump made the comments during a Monday night rally while arguing that higher prices caused by the conflict were “a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe.”
“They could take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay,” Trump said.
The comments prompted cheers from the crowd at the Nebraska rally, but California’s top lawmakers, city mayors, and others erupted, portraying Trump’s comments as an extraordinary threat against millions of Americans.
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) quickly seized on the remarks, trashing Trump as “deranged and dangerous.”
The governor’s official press office account separately warned the comments were “not normal”:
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) issued an unusually blunt rebuke of the president, warning that his rhetoric could itself endanger the city: “The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives.”
She followed up from her personal account with a considerably shorter message: “Keep LA out of your damn mouth.”
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (D) likewise rejected Trump’s “reckless war talk”:
The condemnation spread rapidly through California’s Democratic delegation, some of whom highlighted their own military history, veterans in their cities, and others who flat out called Trump a “traitor”:
Others outside elected office also piled on. Journalist and California resident Jemele Hill pointed out that Trump was talking about a state containing millions of his own voters:
And progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen turned to the potential electoral fallout, warning the president that there are “more Republicans in Los Angeles County than in 24 states.”
“Can’t wait to see what this rhetoric does for must-win down-ballot races across California,” he added.
The post ‘Traitor!’ Californian Leaders, Others Go Berserk After Trump Says ‘Let’ Iran ‘Take Out’ LA, San Diego first appeared on Mediaite.