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

The White House has defended President Donald Trump's controversial remark that Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego, stating that the statement was made in the context of the ongoing conflict with Iran. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticized the comment, with Newsom calling it "deranged and dangerous" and Bass describing it as a threat.

The White House maintains that Trump was implying that American cities would have been threatened by Iran had the U.S. not launched a war in the region earlier this year. Both Los Angeles and San Diego are home to major U.S. military installations, including Navy ports and Air Force bases. The White House Communications Director, Stephen Cheung, dismissed the media's reaction to the comment as "not rooted in reality," arguing that Trump was stating that U.S. cities would not be at risk if a nuclear-armed Iran had not been stopped.

The White House also accused journalists covering the story of being "buffoons" and pushed back against the characterization of Trump's comments by Newsom and other leaders.