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Trump made the comments at a midterm election rally in Nebraska on Monday while defending high oil prices linked to the war with Iran.
US President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio. (AFP photo)
The White House on Tuesday rejected claims that US President Donald Trump was suggesting Iran should attack Los Angeles and San Diego, saying he was talking about the threat posed by Iran.
Trump made the comments at a midterm election rally in Nebraska on Monday while defending high oil prices linked to the war with Iran. He said the higher prices were a “small price” to pay for keeping the US and the world safe.
“It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” he said.
‘A Very Small Price’
“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,” Trump said, adding that the situation would be over “very soon”.
The remarks quickly drew criticism from Democrats, who accused the Republican president of appearing to suggest that Iran could target the two major California cities.
California Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump “deranged and dangerous” over the remarks, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the “nuclear annihilation of an American city is no laughing matter”.
After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego.He is deranged and dangerous. https://t.co/N4JQfecAYo
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 6, 2026
White House Hits Back
The White House rejected that interpretation and accused the media of creating a “freakout” that was “not rooted in reality”.
“He was clearly stating US cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said.
The White House Rapid Response account also directly criticised a Los Angeles Times headline that said Trump had suggested “letting Iran ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego”.
“No, he didn’t, you buffoons,” the account said, adding that Trump was referring to the US effort to stop Iran from gaining the ability to attack Los Angeles and San Diego with nuclear weapons.
No, he didn’t, you buffoons. He was saying the U.S. is fighting to STOP Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon — which they would if they had the chance. https://t.co/KvNJB3nGH6— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 6, 2026
“Which they would if they had the chance,” it added.
Trump Defends Iran War Costs
Trump has been campaigning ahead of the midterm elections as his administration faces pressure over the economic impact of the conflict with Iran.
High oil prices have become a key concern for voters, with Republicans facing questions over the war and its effect on household costs.
Trump has argued that the economic pressure is justified by the need to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, saying the conflict could end soon.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Ask News18During a midterm election rally in Nebraska, Donald Trump defended high oil prices linked to the war with Iran by stating that letting Iran take out cities like Los Angeles and San Diego was a small price to pay to keep the country safe.
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