{
  "id": 12659826,
  "title": "White House denies Trump suggested Iran should ‘take out’ US cities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/white-house-denies-trump-suggested-iran-should-take-out-us-cities",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T15:31:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KahawaTungu",
    "slug": "kahawatungu",
    "url": "https://kahawatungu.com/white-house-denies-trump-suggested-iran-should-take-out-us-cities/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The White House refuted claims made by Democrats that President Donald Trump had suggested Iran should \"take out\" major US cities like Los Angeles and San Diego. Footage from a recent Republican rally in Nebraska showed Trump stating that the high oil prices resulting from the Iran conflict were justified in order to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He further stated, \"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.\" This prompted an angry reaction from Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, who denounced Trump's remarks as advocating for the nuclear annihilation of American cities. However, the White House dismissed these allegations as a \"media freakout\" and not based on reality. According to White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, Trump was simply stating that if Iran had not been stopped from acquiring nuclear weapons, they would have posed a serious threat to US cities. The White House also clarified that the Los Angeles Times had wrongly portrayed Trump as suggesting the possibility of Iran \"taking out\" Los Angeles and San Diego. The White House pointed out that Trump was advocating for the prevention of Iran from having the capability to inflict such damage, which they would do if given the chance. Trump is currently on a campaign tour ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, with Republicans concerned that voter discontent over the Iran war and the resulting economic impact could harm their prospects of retaining control of Congress.",
  "summary": "The White House pushed back Tuesday after Democrats accused President Donald Trump of suggesting Iran should “take out” the major US cities of Los Angeles and San Diego. Viral footage showed comments by Trump at a midterm elections rally in Nebraska on Monday, where he said high oil prices from the Iran war were justified [...] The post White House denies Trump suggested Iran should ‘take out’ US…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Live updates: California officials fume as Trump says Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles, San Diego",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/live-updates-california-officials-fume-as-trump-says-iran-could-take",
        "published": "2026-10-06T13:20:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "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-12435706",
        "published": "2026-10-06T17:59:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}