US President Donald Trump's suggestion that Iran could “take out” the two Democratic strongholds of Los Angeles and San Diego has drawn angry condemnation from California officials.
Trump made the remarks Monday while urging Nebraska voters to turn out in the November election and claim a “tremendous victory” that he said would validate his administration’s actions.
Speaking in a rambling address that also touched on gas prices, Venezuela and attacks on the news media, Trump argued that the costs of war were relatively minor.
“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” he said, adding possibly in jest that Iran could “take out” the two heavily Democratic cities of Los Angeles and San Diego.
“They can take out a city, let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.”
The crowd responded with cheers, but the comments immediately drew condemnation from California leaders.
“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,” Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on X.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria likewise denounced Trump’s remarks.
“San Diego is not collateral damage,” Gloria posted on X, stressing, “We are not expendable. And we are never a ‘small price to pay.’ Keep our city out of your reckless war talk.”
There was no indication that Trump’s remarks were based on specific intelligence.
Back in March, in the midst of the US aggression, Iran fired at least two Khorramshahr-4 intercontinental ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, the US-UK military base, in the Indian Ocean.
The British-controlled island in the Indian Ocean lies more than 2,000 miles from the Strait of Hormuz. Although the territory is under British sovereignty, the base is operated by the US and hosts critical infrastructure, including a long runway to accommodate large bombers and a deep natural harbor suitable for nuclear submarines and warships.
The base hosts a significant military presence, underscoring its role in global security. The United States permanently stations B-52 and B-1 strategic bombers there, and it also houses the 15th Space Surveillance Squadron for satellite monitoring.
The base also serves as a key logistics hub, with ships loaded with heavy equipment ready to support an entire marine brigade at short notice.
California authorities were also warned in March about the possibility of a surprise Iranian drone attack, but officials said they had no credible intelligence supporting the threat and did not consider it serious.
Trump’s recent remarks come as he has repeatedly claimed that the US has already won, or is on the verge of winning, the war on the Islamic Republic. According to the latest tally, he has made victory claims at least 100 times.
The claims began to emerge early after the US and the Israeli regime launched their unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28.
However, Iran’s mighty response to the aggressors during the 40-day war exposes Trump's claims, as the Iranian strikes against US-Israeli assets across the region forced the regimes to accept a ceasefire and inflicted heavy damage on US facilities.
Source:Websites
