California officials have sharply criticized President Donald Trump after he appeared to suggest Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego in a speech in Nebraska on Monday.
Speaking at a Republican rally, Trump said Iran could not develop a nuclear weapon and described the war as a “small price to pay for keeping the world safe.”
He suggested Iran could “take out a city,” saying: “Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego.” He added that the war would be over “very soon.”
It was not clear what Trump meant and the White House did not immediately respond to a request to clarify.
The comments drew swift backlash from California’s leaders. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom called the president “deranged and dangerous.”
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said Trump’s comments “could compromise our safety.”
“The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it,” she said.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said his city was “not collateral damage.”
“Keep our city out of your reckless war talk,” he said on social media.
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