President Trump is yet again drawing outrage and condemnation, this time over a comment he made about the hypothetical destruction of two Democratic cities. The controversial remarks, made as he addressed the war with Iran while on the campaign trail, have led to strong reactions to Trump’s comments, his lingering and unpopular war, and his patriotism.

Trump on Iran war: ‘Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego’

President Trump made his controversial remarks on Monday as part of a speech he gave at a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska. Discussing the ongoing war with Iran and seemingly referencing its economic impact on Americans, Trump told the audience, “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.” The president, his comments disjointed, then told the crowd, “They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” with some of his audience applauding this line. “This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon. It’s essentially almost over with.”

Trump’s words have caused significant controversy, with media outlets including The Guardian, the BBC and even the Los Angeles-based TMZ reporting on the outrage. The remarks have gone viral on social media; a version of the comments posted by the Kamala Harris-founded Headquarters had been viewed over 8 million times by early Tuesday morning.

Democrats condemn Trump’s remarks as ‘reckless’ and ‘dangerous’

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria posted, “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.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called out Trump for his hostility toward the state. “After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego,” Newsom’s office posted, referencing Trump’s controversial National Guard deployment to Los Angeles, one of several Democratic-led cities to which Trump has sent federal troops. “He is deranged and dangerous,” Newsom’s account added.

Rep. Robert Garcia, a former Long Beach mayor, posted, “This man is a lunatic and hard to understand how anyone can support him or his movement anymore.”

“The President of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles,” posted Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on her official account. “His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety.” Bass reminded her followers that, “The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives. In the face of irresponsible threats, as Angelenos, we know how to stand together and protect our city.”

Bass, who is running for reelection, was more blunt on her campaign’s X account, telling Trump, “Keep LA out of your damn mouth.”

Interpreting Trump’s words and intentions

While many have been quick to condemn Trump, some have questioned the meaning of his remarks. The Los Angeles Times speculated that the president’s comments may have been made “in jest” but noted that even one of the Republicans endorsed by the president, San Diego-based U.S. House candidate Jim Desmond, condemned Trump’s remarks. “I vehemently disagree with President Trump’s comments,” posted Desmond, a Navy veteran. “America must stand up to Iran and defend our interests, but the first responsibility of our Commander in Chief is to protect the American people and our homeland.”

However, not everyone has condemned Trump for his remarks. Right-wing podcaster Steve Skojec was one of several people who argued that Trump simply misspoke, stumbling over a defense of the Iran War. As Skojec explained, Trump was defending the cost of the war by arguing that the alternative would have been Iran attacking the U.S. and targeting cities like Los Angeles and San Diego.

San Bernardino Sun writer Sal Rodriguez argued that neither interpretation leaves Trump in a good light, remarking that his comment was “either crazy or gibberish.” Rodriguez wrote, “Even going with the charitable interpretation of Trump’s remarks, it’s just wrong. Iran has never been a serious threat to the United States,” and noted that Trump chose two blue cities to use as his examples.

Given Trump’s shifting justifications and promises concerning the war with Iran and his hostility toward Democratic-led cities, many people are unwilling to give him the benefit of the doubt concerning his comments. Regardless of how Trump intended his remarks to land, his words and the cheers from his audience have set off alarm bells and outrage over his comments and the war that he continues to pursue.

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