{
  "id": 12409691,
  "title": "White House denies Trump suggested Iran should ‘take out’ US cities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/white-house-denies-trump-suggested-iran-should-take-out-us-cities-12409691",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T14:38:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/06/white-house-denies-trump-suggested-iran-should-take-out-us-cities"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Washington: The White House dismissed accusations on Tuesday that President Donald Trump suggested Iran should target US cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, following backlash from Democrats. Viral footage from a Nebraska rally showed Trump expressing concerns about high oil prices resulting from the Iran war, stating that the costs were justified to safeguard the nation. He added, \"They can take out a city. 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.\"\n\nCalifornia Democrats seized upon the remarks, accusing Trump of advocating for Iran to attack the two Pacific coast cities. Governor Gavin Newsom and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned Trump's comments, emphasizing the gravity of such a situation. However, the White House strongly refuted these claims, labeling the media's interpretation as a \"freakout\" and emphasizing that Trump was discussing the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran. White House communications director Steven Cheung clarified that Trump was indicating the cities could be threatened if Iran had nuclear capabilities, rather than suggesting Iran should attack them.",
  "summary": "US Democrats accused the 80-year-old Republican president of encouraging Iran to hit Los Angeles and San Diego during a midterm election rally.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "US-Iran conflict: Iran conflict: White House denies Trump urged US city attacks as Houthis claim Riyadh airport strike",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/us-iran-conflict-iran-conflict-white-house-denies-trump-urged-us-city",
        "published": "2026-10-06T03:00:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "‘Deranged’ and ‘dangerous’ Trump calls for Iran to strike US cities amid historic ratings low | First Thing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/deranged-and-dangerous-trump-calls-for-iran-to-strike-us-cities-amid",
        "published": "2026-10-06T12:29:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Newsom rips Trump for saying Iran can 'take out' LA and San Diego",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/newsom-rips-trump-for-saying-iran-can-take-out-la-and-san-diego",
        "published": "2026-10-06T12:36:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Egypt Independent",
        "title": "Trump draws backlash after he suggests Iran could ‘take out’ Los Angeles or San Diego",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/trump-draws-backlash-after-he-suggests-iran-could-take-out-los",
        "published": "2026-10-06T12:46:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "‘Let ’em take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego, Trump says of Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/let-em-take-out-los-angeles-and-san-diego-trump-says-of-iran",
        "published": "2026-10-06T13:24:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Trump suggests Iran can \"take out\" cities in California during Nebraska rally",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/trump-suggests-iran-can-take-out-cities-in-california-during-nebraska",
        "published": "2026-10-06T13:40:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "'Let 'em take out Los Angeles': Trump sparks fury after barb suggesting Iran destroy LA, San Diego",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/let-em-take-out-los-angeles-trump-sparks-fury-after-barb-suggesting",
        "published": "2026-10-06T13:52:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "White House defends Trump comment to let Iran 'take out' LA and San Diego",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/white-house-defends-trump-comment-to-let-iran-take-out-la-and-san",
        "published": "2026-10-06T14:15:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "White House denies Trump suggested Iran should 'take out' US cities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/white-house-denies-trump-suggested-iran-should-take-out-us-cities",
        "published": "2026-10-06T14:30:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "White House denies Trump suggested Iran should ‘take out’ US cities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/white-house-denies-trump-suggested-iran-should-take-out-us-cities-12413587",
        "published": "2026-10-06T14:38:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "White House denies Trump suggested Iran should 'take out' US cities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/white-house-denies-trump-suggested-iran-should-take-out-us-cities-12407749",
        "published": "2026-10-06T15:02:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}