LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — California leaders condemned President Donald Trump’s remarks about Iran attacking Los Angeles and San Diego, while the White House said he was describing a nuclear threat his administration sought to prevent.
Trump made the comments Monday during a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, as he defended the economic costs of the war with Iran.
“They can take out a city — let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego,” Trump said. Members of the audience cheered.
White House communications director Steven Cheung responded Tuesday that critics had misrepresented the president’s remarks. He said Trump meant that American cities would have faced danger if Iran had developed nuclear weapons, and argued that the administration’s military actions had made the country safer.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom called Trump’s comments “deranged and dangerous.” He accused the president of suggesting that foreign enemies should attack California cities.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the remarks could compromise public safety. She argued that a president should protect Americans rather than encourage attacks against them.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria also condemned the comments, saying his city should not become collateral damage in the president’s rhetoric about the war.
The criticism extended beyond Democratic officials. Jim Desmond, a Republican congressional candidate and Navy veteran from San Diego County, said he strongly disagreed with Trump.
Desmond said confronting Iran did not diminish the president’s responsibility to protect Americans. He rejected any suggestion that a U.S. city or its residents could be expendable.
The White House continued to defend Trump’s remarks as an argument for preventing Iran from acquiring the ability to attack American cities with nuclear weapons.
