President Donald Trump said Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego during a rally in Nebraska on Monday night, drawing criticism from the mayors of both cities, according to TMZ.
Trump made the remarks while discussing rising fuel prices linked to the Iran war, saying American motorists were paying a “little bit” more at the pump. According to the report, he claimed Iran had the capability to destroy an American city but offered no evidence to support that assertion. “Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” Trump said.
He also described it as a “small price to pay” and said the war was “essentially almost over with.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the remarks in a post on X. “The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives.”
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria also criticised the president’s comments. “San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable. And we are never a ‘small price to pay.’ Keep our city out of your reckless war talk.”