The White House has denied that President Donald Trump suggested Iran should attack the US cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, after Democrats criticised remarks he made at a campaign rally in Nebraska.
Trump made the comments on Monday while discussing high oil prices linked to the war with Iran and the US effort to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
“It’s a little bit high. 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, let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon.”
The remarks drew criticism from Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who accused Trump of suggesting that Iran should target the two California cities.
“The nuclear annihilation of an American city is no laughing matter,” Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said.
However, the White House rejected the interpretation, saying Trump was referring to the potential threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said Trump was “clearly stating US cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped.”
The White House’s Rapid Response account on X also criticised a Los Angeles Times headline that reported Trump had suggested “letting Iran ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego.”