GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (TNND) \u2014 President Donald Trump\u2019s Rapid Response Team said Tuesday that his comments about Iran \u201ctaking out\u201d Los Angeles and San Diego were meant as a warning about the threat Tehran could pose if it develops a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n
The account pushed back on criticism of Trump\u2019s remarks in an X post<\/a>, saying the United States is fighting to prevent Iran from gaining the ability to attack the two California cities with a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, he didn\u2019t, you buffoons,\u201d the account wrote, rejecting the suggestion Trump was accepting or encouraging an attack. \u201cHe was saying the U.S. is fighting to STOP Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon \u2014 which they would if they had the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump made the comments Monday night at a rally in Nebraska while defending higher gas prices<\/a> he said were tied to the conflict. \u201cIt\u2019s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,\u201d he said. \u201cThey can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump did not mention nuclear weapons in the rally remarks, though he has repeatedly defended the U.S. military campaign against Iran <\/a>as necessary to prevent Tehran from developing one. He also predicted the war would end \u201cvery soon,\u201d while mocking Iran\u2019s claim that it has a \u201cbig threshold for pain.\u201d<\/p>\n California Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly fired back on social media, again criticizing Trump over the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to the state during his immigration crackdown.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should \u2018take out\u2019 Los Angeles and San Diego,\u201d he wrote on X<\/a>. \u201cHe is deranged and dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said<\/a>, \u201cThe role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives.\u201d<\/p>\n