{
  "id": 12411732,
  "title": "US denies Trump suggested Iran 'take out' US cities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/us-denies-trump-suggested-iran-take-out-us-cities",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T15:39:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/middle-east/2026/1006/1594298-iran-us/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The White House has responded to accusations by Democrats that President Donald Trump suggested Iran should target major US cities like Los Angeles and San Diego. President Trump made these remarks during a midterm elections rally in Nebraska, stating that the high oil prices resulting from the Iran war were justified by the necessity to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He added that the cost of maintaining global safety and protecting the country was relatively minor, and it would be over swiftly. Los Angeles and San Diego, both located in California, are the two cities Trump allegedly mentioned taking out.\n\nCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic minority leader in the US House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries denounced Trump's comments, calling him deranged and dangerous, and emphasizing that the nuclear annihilation of an American city is no laughing matter. However, the White House vehemently refuted these claims, asserting that Trump was not advocating for Iran to attack US cities. The White House Communications Director, Steven Cheung, explained that Trump was addressing the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran, clarifying that his comments were not a call for Iran to take out the American cities. The White House claimed it was a media \"freakout\" not rooted in reality.",
  "summary": "The White House has responded to criticism from Democrats who claim President Donald Trump suggested that Iran should attack major US cities, specifically Los Angeles and San Diego. According to reports, Trump made these comments at a midterm elections rally in Nebraska, where he discussed high oil prices resulting from the Iran war.\n\nTrump stated that the high oil prices were a \"small price to pay\" for keeping the US safe and preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He also said, \"They can take out a city. Let them take, let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego.\"\n\nDemocrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, strongly criticized Trump's comments, with Newsom calling him \"deranged and dangerous\" and Jeffries saying that the \"nuclear annihilation of an American city is no laughing matter\". The White House pushed back on these criticisms, with communications director Steven Cheung writing that the media's reaction was \"not rooted in reality\".",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Rolling Stone",
        "title": "California Leaders Erupt After Trump Suggests Letting Iran ‘Take Out’ Cities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/california-leaders-erupt-after-trump-suggests-letting-iran-take-out",
        "published": "2026-10-06T13:26:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "California leaders condemn Trump’s remarks about possible attacks on US cities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/california-leaders-condemn-trumps-remarks-about-possible-attacks-on",
        "published": "2026-10-06T14:23:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Trump creates California controversy; Vance, Cruz get personal: Live discussion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/trump-creates-california-controversy-vance-cruz-get-personal-live",
        "published": "2026-10-06T14:26:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "White House aide: Trump did not call for attacks on US cities but explained how he’s preventing them",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/white-house-aide-trump-did-not-call-for-attacks-on-us-cities-but",
        "published": "2026-10-06T14:27:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Trump draws cheers, then criticism for musing about Iran taking out U.S. cities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/trump-draws-cheers-then-criticism-for-musing-about-iran-taking-out-u",
        "published": "2026-10-06T15:52:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}