US President Donald Trump has drawn widespread criticism from officials in California and beyond after making comments that appeared to suggest Iran could launch an attack on major American cities, including Los Angeles and San Diego. Speaking at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, Trump said that the consequences of war with Iran were a "small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe." He added that Iran could potentially take out an American city, saying "Let, let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego."
Trump's comments were swiftly denounced by leaders in California, including Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who called the president "deranged and dangerous." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also criticized Trump's statements, saying they "could potentially compromise our safety." Bass emphasized that the role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives. The Democratic mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria, also spoke out, saying that the city "is not collateral damage. We are not expendable. And we are never a 'small price to pay.'"
The backlash against Trump's comments was not limited to Democrats, with Republican congressional candidate Jim Desmond also expressing disagreement. Desmond, who is running in California's 48th Congressional district, said he "vehemently" disagreed with the president, adding that America must stand up to Iran and defend its interests, but that the first responsibility of the Commander in Chief is to protect the American people and the homeland. Desmond emphasized that no American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage.
Trump's highlighting of cities in California that could be targeted by Iran comes as he has frequently criticized the state and its leaders over issues such as immigration, state elections, and wildfires. The president has repeatedly made the argument that high gas prices are a small price to pay for the war in Iran, and in his Nebraska comments, he appeared to contrast that with a dramatically higher price to pay – an attack on a US city. CNN has reached out to the White House for more information on what Trump meant by his comments about the two cities.
The war with Iran has been ongoing for seven months, despite Trump's initial vow that it would only last a few weeks. The president has since argued that his initial four- to six-week timeline had only been about the time it would take to eradicate the nuclear threat from Iran, not the time it would take to conclude the entire war. Trump repeated during his speech in Nebraska that the war is "going to end very soon," but provided no further details.
The comments made by Trump have raised concerns about the potential consequences of an Iranian attack on US cities. While there is no indication that Iran is planning such an attack, Trump's words have been seen as reckless and irresponsible by many. The incident has also sparked a renewed debate about the ongoing war with Iran and the role of the US in the conflict.
The story has been widely covered in the media, with CNN's Kaanita Iyer contributing to this report. The incident has sparked widespread criticism of Trump, with many calling for greater restraint and caution in his public comments.
Key points
- Officials in California denounce Trump's comments as "dangerous" and "reckless".
- Trump has repeatedly made the argument that high gas prices are a small price to pay for the war in Iran.
- The war with Iran has been ongoing for seven months, despite Trump's initial vow that it would only last a few weeks.
