The White House has issued a firm rebuttal following remarks by Donald Trump suggesting Iran could destroy Los Angeles and San Diego, drawing sharp condemnation from California officials.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, addressing the comments made during a campaign rally in Nebraska, labeled them “deranged and dangerous.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass characterized the statements as explicit threats, alleging they sought to incite violence against American citizens.
According to the White House, however, Trump’s point was contextual: American metropolises would have been at risk from Iran had he not initiated military conflict there earlier this year.
Both cities are home to significant US military infrastructure, including naval ports and Air Force installations.
Speaking on Monday in Nebraska regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran, Trump stated: “It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego.”
Portions of the crowd cheered as the comments concerning the two California cities were delivered.
Following the statement, Governor Newsom announced on Tuesday that the “dangerous – if not treasonous” comments prompted him to order California’s State Threat Assessment Center to monitor developments, in case foreign actors viewed the remarks as a license to attack the state.
This agency is tasked with identifying and neutralizing security threats within the state.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria posted on X that the city was not collateral damage, demanding Trump exclude it from his “reckless war talk”.
As of now, Trump has not responded to the remarks made by California leadership.
White House Communications Director Stephen Cheung dismissed the media reaction to the comments as a “freakout” that was “not rooted in reality,” posting his defense on X.
“He was clearly stating US cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped,” Cheung wrote. “America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money”.
Administration officials frequently assert that disrupting Iran’s nuclear program was vital to US national security, maintaining that resulting complications from the conflict were unavoidable necessities.
In a separate post, the White House rapid response account insulted reporters from the Los Angeles Times covering the comments as “buffoons,” reiterating its pushback against the characterization offered by Newsom and others.
“He was saying the US 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,” the account stated.
San Diego, situated 17 miles (27km) from the Mexican border, is the eighth-largest city in the US. It hosts Naval Base San Diego, the home port of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet, and Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, the primary training ground for Navy SEALs on the West Coast.
The area also hosts Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, a facility employing 70,000 service members and civilians.
Located approximately 120 miles (193 km) north of San Diego, Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the US.
Los Angeles is home to the headquarters of the US Space Force’s space system command, as well as Los Angeles Air Force Base.