California officials denounced President Donald Trump for saying at a campaign rally in Nebraska on Monday that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles or San Diego, calling his remarks “deranged” and “irresponsible.”
\n\nIn an apparent reference to the effect of the Iran war on U.S. prices, Trump said, “Remember, with the war, it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe.”
\n\n“They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego,” Trump said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
\n\nCalifornia and the state’s leaders are a frequent target of Trump’s ire, particularly Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is widely viewed as potential 2028 presidential contender. In his comments at the rally, Trump appeared to be making light of the potential for Iran to attack major American cities.
\n\nIn response to the backlash, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said in a post on X that the controversy “is not rooted in reality.”
\n\n“He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped,” Cheung said. “America is safer because of the President.
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/