Trump Draws California Backlash After Suggesting Iran Could Attack US Cities

President Donald Trump suggested Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego during a political rally in Nebraska on October 5, according to ABCNews.com. The comments brought condemnation from officials in California.

Trump was discussing the Iran war. NYT Politics reported that he described the war as necessary to "keep the world safe."

At the October 5 rally, Trump named the two California cities while discussing possible Iranian attacks. The Guardian reported another phrase from the speech: "They can take out a city."

Coverage published October 6 also highlighted his description of the cost. The Independent quoted Trump saying, "That's a very small price to pay." The supplied accounts do not provide the full surrounding passage.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded by calling Trump "deranged and dangerous," according to CBS Top Stories. His criticism focused on the president's suggestion that Iran could attack Los Angeles and San Diego.

The backlash extended beyond Newsom. Forbes reported on October 6 that Democratic leaders and lawmakers from California accused Trump of "inviting an attack" on US soil.

The latest coverage centres on condemnation from California officials. NBC News reported that officials called the remarks "deranged" and "irresponsible." The provided reports do not establish any resulting change in US policy.

The accounts differ in how they describe Trump's intent. Al Jazeera characterised the remarks as a joke, while New York Post said he appeared to joke about what Iran could do if it obtained nuclear weapons. Other coverage describes him as suggesting the cities could be attacked without making that qualification. The remarks themselves, and the backlash, are more clearly established than his intended meaning.