Trump says US will not let Iran hit Los Angeles or San Diego after earlier remarks
In short
President Donald Trump told a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday that he would not allow Iran to attack Los Angeles or San Diego, saying: "We protect our cities. We protect our country." The remarks followed comments at a Nebraska rally on Monday, where he said "Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego," which drew condemnation from California leaders including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
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President Donald Trump told a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday night that he would not allow Iran to attack Los Angeles or San Diego, two days after remarks at a rally in Nebraska drew condemnation from California leaders. "We protect our cities. We protect our country," Trump said, according to the Los Angeles Times and NBC News. [ 1 , 2 ]
In the same speech, Trump returned to the scenario. "I said it the other day: Let them hit a missile into San Diego or Los Angeles on the way," he said. "Let them hit San Diego. Let them hit Los Angeles." NBC News reported that he spoke as he tried to explain the Iran war, saying he had "no choice" if the U.S. were to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. NBC News and CNN described the Wednesday remarks as an attempt to clean up or clarify his earlier comments, while Newsweek reported that Trump had doubled down. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
On Monday in Nebraska, Trump had said: "They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego." The Los Angeles Times and Newsweek reported that he added: "This is a very small price to pay." NBC News said the remarks seemed to refer to what would happen if Iran had a nuclear weapon. White House communications director Steven Cheung said the remarks had been taken out of context, writing on Tuesday that the president "was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn't been stopped." [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on social media that Trump is "deranged and dangerous" and that the remarks "were dangerous—if not treasonous." The Los Angeles Times reported that Newsom on Tuesday opened the state emergency operations center to assess potential threats, and Newsweek reported that he asked the State Threat Assessment Center to "actively monitor the situation in the event that foreign actors interpret the President's remarks as an invitation to target California." [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X that Trump's statements "could potentially compromise our safety," and told NBC News after Wednesday's rally that they give "a green light to Iran." She said she may call on Congress to investigate. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria wrote: "San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable." Republican Jim Desmond, a Navy veteran running in a U.S. House race, wrote: "I vehemently disagree with President Trump's comments." [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
NBC News reported that the San Antonio speech lasted about an hour and 45 minutes, with numerous interruptions from protesters. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
California leaders said the president's remarks could compromise the safety of their cities, and Newsom opened the state emergency operations center and asked the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor the situation. Bass said she may call on Congress to investigate the comments, and Republican Jim Desmond, a candidate for the U.S. House, also publicly disagreed with the president.
Key facts
- At a rally in Nebraska on Monday, Trump said: "They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego." [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- At a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, Trump said: "We protect our cities. We protect our country." [ 1 , 2 ]
- In San Antonio, Trump again said "Let them hit San Diego. Let them hit Los Angeles." [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- White House communications director Steven Cheung said the Monday remarks had been taken out of context. [ 1 ]
- Newsom opened the state emergency operations center on Tuesday to assess potential threats following the remarks. [ 1 ]
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she may call on Congress to investigate Trump's comments. [ 2 ]
- San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria wrote: "San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable." [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump said at a Nebraska rally on Monday: "Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego." [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- At a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday, Trump again referred to Iran hitting San Diego and Los Angeles. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Trump said in San Antonio: "We protect our cities. We protect our country." [ 1 , 2 ]
- The White House said Trump's Monday remarks had been taken out of context or misunderstood. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Governor Gavin Newsom criticised Trump's remarks on social media. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticised Trump's remarks. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Trump's Wednesday remarks were a clarification or a repetition of his Monday comments. NBC News and CNN described an effort to clean up or clarify the comments, while Newsweek reported that Trump doubled down.
- What Trump meant by his Monday remarks. The White House said he was describing the threat from a nuclear Iran, NBC News said the remarks seemed to refer to that scenario, and California leaders read them as inviting an attack.
- Whether Bass will ask Congress to investigate. Bass said only that she may do so, according to a single outlet.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 7: The Los Angeles Times reports Trump told a San Antonio rally he would not let Iran strike Los Angeles or San Diego. [ 1 ]
- October 7: NBC News reports Trump sought to clean up his Monday comments, and Bass says she may call on Congress to investigate. [ 2 ]
- October 8: CNN reports Trump tried to clarify his remarks about Los Angeles and San Diego. [ 3 ]
- October 8: Newsweek reports Trump again invoked Iranian missiles hitting Los Angeles or San Diego. [ 4 ]