{ "id": 12413587, "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", "topic": "world", "section": "World", "published": "2026-10-06T14:38:44.000Z", "source": { "name": "Free Malaysia Today", "slug": "free-malaysia-today", "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 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.\"\n\nDemocrats, 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.\n\nThe 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.\"", "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": 11, "also_reported_by": [ { "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-12409691", "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." }