Trump's apparent joke

President Donald Trump suggested destroying Los Angeles and San Diego would be a 'small price' to pay for preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

“They can take out a city. let them take, let it, let them take out los angeles. let them take out san diego. that's, this is a very small price to pay, and it's gonna be over very soon.”

Bipartisan backlash

California lawmakers and officials condemned Trump's remarks, with Governor Gavin Newsom calling him 'deranged and dangerous' and Attorney General Xavier Becerra stating it is 'not a small price to pay or a punchline'.

California officials respond

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Republican San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond criticized Trump, stating no American city is expendable and no family should be treated as collateral damage.

White House clarification

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung stated Trump was 'clearly saying' that u.s. cities would have been threatened without military intervention to prevent iran's nuclear development.

Trump's history with cities

Trump has repeatedly claimed american cities are unsafe, corrupt, and controlled by political opponents, including accusing cities of voter fraud and federalizing the National Guard.

Recent city claims

Trump recently accused North Carolina's Democratic governor of turning cities into 'blood-soaked killing fields' and vowed to use cities as military training grounds in 2024.