LOS ANGELES — California’s governor and the mayors of its two largest southern cities condemned President Donald Trump on Monday night after he told a campaign rally in Nebraska that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles or San Diego and called it a small price to pay in the war with Tehran, BBC News and KTLA reported.
Speaking at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in Grand Island, Neb., where he was campaigning for Sen. Pete Ricketts, Trump discussed higher gasoline prices tied to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. “They could take out a city. Let ’em take out Los Angeles. Let ’em take out San Diego,” he said, drawing cheers from parts of the crowd. “This is a very small price to pay and it’s going to be over very soon. It’s essentially almost over with.” BBC News noted it was not clear exactly what the president meant.
Gov. Gavin Newsom called Trump “deranged and dangerous.” His press office added: “Let’s be clear: The President is advocating for an attack on 10+ million U.S. residents in two of America’s largest cities. This is not normal.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement that the president’s remarks “are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety,” adding: “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 responded: “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.” Both cities host major U.S. military installations, including Naval Base San Diego, home port of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, while Los Angeles is home to the Space Force’s Space Systems Command headquarters and Los Angeles Air Force Base, BBC News noted.
Trump had yet to respond to the California officials’ criticism, BBC News reported. The Nebraska rally was part of his midterm campaign swing; Ricketts faces an unexpectedly tight race against independent Dan Osborn, according to polls cited by KTLA.
—
