California leaders condemned President Trump on Monday night after he appeared to suggest that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego if it develops a nuclear weapon.
Speaking at a Republican political rally in Nebraska, the president sought to justify the Iran war as necessary for “keeping the world safe.” He then suggested there could be strikes on the United States, including the Democratic-led Californian cities.
“They could take out a city,” he said. “Let them take — Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.”
It was not immediately clear what Mr. Trump meant, but his comments were met with anger from officials in California, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called the president “deranged and dangerous.”
“After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego,” Mr. Newsom posted on social media.
Mayor Todd Gloria of San Diego wrote on social media that his city was not “collateral damage” and not “expendable.”
“Keep our city out of your reckless war talk,” he added.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass said that the president’s comments were “dangerous” and could “potentially compromise” the city’s safety.
“The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives,” she said in a social media statement.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Mr. Trump’s remarks.
In his speech on Monday, Mr. Trump also suggested the war with Iran was “going to end very soon,” but did not provide any information as to how. Among his key justifications for launching the war in Iran this year was to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.
Last week, Mr. Trump turned down Iran’s latest cease-fire proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart talks on the country’s nuclear program in exchange for U.S. concessions.
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