White House defends Trump’s remarks about Iran and California cities
President Donald Trump drew criticism after naming Los Angeles and San Diego while discussing the war with Iran and higher prices at a political rally in Nebraska on Monday.
“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” Trump said. “They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.” He also predicted that the conflict would end “very soon.”
California officials interpreted the remarks as accepting or encouraging attacks on the two cities. Gov. Gavin Newsom called Trump “deranged and dangerous.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said a president’s role was to protect the country, “not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives.” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said his city was “not collateral damage” or expendable. Jim Desmond, a Republican congressional candidate near …