White House denies Trump suggested Iran should 'take out' US cities

The White House on Tuesday denied that President Donald Trump suggested Iran should "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego, after Democrats accused him of encouraging an attack on the two California cities. Trump made the remarks at a midterm election rally in Nebraska on Monday while defending high oil prices from the Iran war.

Did Trump say Iran should take out Los Angeles and San Diego?

Trump said at the Nebraska rally: "Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego," calling it a small price to pay. The White House says he was describing what a nuclear Iran could do to US cities, not urging an attack.

What did Trump say at the Nebraska rally?

Trump said high oil prices from the Iran war were justified by the need to stop Tehran getting nuclear weapons. "It's a little bit high. It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe," he said. Footage of his comments went viral.

He then 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."

How did Democrats respond to Trump's remarks?

Democrats, who control California, where both cities are located, accused the 80-year-old Republican president of encouraging Iran to hit the two urban centers. California Governor Gavin Newsom said on X: "Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego. He is deranged and dangerous."

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader in the US House of Representatives, also responded on X. "The nuclear annihilation of an American city is no laughing matter," he said.

What is the White House saying about the 'take out' remarks?

The White House insisted Trump was talking about the threat posed by Iran. It called the reaction a "media freakout" that was "not rooted in reality." White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on X: "He was clearly stating US cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn't been stopped."

The White House Rapid Response account on X took issue with a Los Angeles Times headline saying Trump had suggested "letting Iran 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego." It said he was explaining that the US is fighting to stop Iran from having the ability to take out the two cities with a nuclear weapon.

Why is Trump campaigning ahead of the midterms?

Trump is hitting the road in the last month before the midterms amid Republican fears that voter anger over the Iran war and high prices could cost the party control of Congress.