Trump sparks outrage for suggesting Iran could ‘take out’ US cities

Trump sparks outrage for suggesting Iran could 'take out' US cities California leaders are condemning President Trump after he suggested that Iran could take out Los Angeles or San Diego as he defended the war.

Key points

• Californians are speaking out after President Trump remarked Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego.
• Speaking at a midterm-election rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, Trump argued Americans should accept the economic impact, most notably higher gasoline rates, resulting from the Iran war.
• City with a nuclear weapon, and mentioned San Diego and Los Angeles.
• The White House remarked Trump's remarks were concerning safeguarding Americans.
• "It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe, " he remarked.

In practice, a comment by President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Nebraska on Monday sparked immediate backlash from California leaders after he suggested Iran could "take out" a U.S. City with a nuclear weapon, and mentioned San Diego and Los Angeles.

"It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe, " he remarked. "They can take out a city. Let 'em take out Los Angeles, let 'em take out San Diego. This is a particularly small rate to pay."

For context, the remarks rapidly circulated online, drawing sharp condemnation from California office-holders who portrayed Trump's comments as an invitation to attack those cities or downplaying such an attack, even as it appeared Trump was warning the cities could be vulnerable if Iran obtained a nuclear weapon. The White House remarked Trump's remarks were concerning safeguarding Americans.

In short, trump sparks outrage for suggesting Iran could take out US cities is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.