The president said his administration would protect U.S. cities following backlash for suggesting Iran could \u201ctake out\u201d Los Angeles and San Diego<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump sought to add context Wednesday to controversial remarks he made earlier this week<\/a> regarding Iran potentially attacking Los Angeles and San Diego, saying that his administration would not allow such an attack to happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n While campaigning in San Antonio for Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton, Trump revisited comments he made earlier in the week suggesting that Iran could \u201ctake out\u201d Los Angeles and San Diego if it developed a nuclear weapon.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not going to let that happen,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe protect our cities. We protect our country.\u201d<\/p>\n The comments came after Trump drew criticism during a campaign rally he attended in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday. After discussing the war with Iran and current gas prices<\/a>, Trump referenced the two Southern California cities.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They could take out a city. Let \u2018em take out Los Angeles. Let \u2018em take out San Diego,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThis is a very small price to pay and it\u2019s going to be over very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n In a social media post, California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized Trump\u2019s comments<\/a>, calling him \u201cderanged\u201d and \u201cdangerous.\u201d Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also took to social media to say the president\u2019s comments were \u201cdangerous\u201d and could \u201cpotentially compromise our safety.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/MayorOfLA\/status\/2107315868493557945?s=20<\/a><\/p>\n Have questions? Get answers.<\/p>\n Scroll to continue reading<\/p>\n Following the backlash, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on social media that the president\u2019s comments were being misunderstood. Cheung said Trump was referring to the threat U.S. cities could have faced if Iran developed a nuclear weapon.\u00a0<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/StevenCheung47\/status\/2107449747002810417?s=20<\/a><\/p>\n