White House defends Trump comment to let Iran 'take out' LA and San Diego

Washington: The White House responded to Democratic accusations that President Donald Trump suggested Iran should "take out" major US cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, on Tuesday. Viral footage from a recent Nebraska rally showed Trump claiming that the cost of high oil prices resulting from the Iran war was justified by the need to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

He said, "It's a little bit high. It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe." Trump then suggested that Iran could "take out a city," referring to Los Angeles and San Diego, stating, "Let them take, 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."

Democrats, primarily from California where both cities are located, accused the 80-year-old Republican president of endorsing the idea of Iran attacking the two urban centers. California Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump "deranged and dangerous." Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also condemned Trump's comments, emphasizing that a nuclear attack on an American city is not acceptable.

The White House, however, dismissed the allegations as a "media freakout" that was "not rooted in reality." Communications director Steven Cheung stated that Trump was merely addressing the threat posed by Iran, not advocating for the destruction of US cities. He explained, "He was clearly stating US cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn't been stopped, which they would if they had the chance."

The White House also refuted a Los Angeles Times headline that claimed Trump had suggested letting Iran take out Los Angeles and San Diego. The White House's Rapid Response account on X wrote, "No, he didn't, you buffoons. 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."