GRAND ISLAND, Neb. () — President Donald Trump suggested letting Iran attack Los Angeles and San Diego while speaking at a midterm campaign event in Nebraska on Monday.
When speaking about the ongoing war with Iran, Trump said the economic impact of the war is a “small price to pay.”
“And again, remember, with the war, it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” Trump said to the crowd.
Then, he pivoted, seeming to imply that Iran would have been capable of taking out a U.S. city if it had been allowed to pursue its nuclear weapons program. He then went on to say the country should take aim at Los Angeles and San Diego.
“They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” Trump said to applause from the crowd. “This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon. It’s essentially almost over with.”
“And they might keep going a little long. You know, they always say they have a big threshold for pain. They need it, let me tell you, they need it. But it’s going to end very soon, and it’ll end one way or the other,” he continued.
In a post on social media, California Gov. Gavin Newsom denounced Trump’s comments, writing, “Let’s be clear: The President is advocating for an attack on 10+ million U.S. residents in two of America’s largest cities. This is not normal. None of this is. And we will continue to remind folks of that every day.”
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass called the president’s comments “dangerous.”
“The President of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles. His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety,” Bass wrote on social media. “The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives. In the face of irresponsible threats, as Angelenos, we know how to stand together and protect our city.”
Meanwhile, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria wrote, “San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable. And we are never a ‘small price to pay.’ Keep our city out of your reckless war talk.”
Trump was in Nebraska for a pre-midterm campaign event alongside GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts, who is running against an independent candidate backed by national Democrats.
It’s part of what the Republican president says is a 32-day blitz of rallies ahead of Nov. 3 that so far has taken him to ruby-red territory such as Oklahoma and Alabama.
Across the country, voters are frustrated with Trump’s handling of the economy, including persistently high costs for fuel and groceries. It’s a major issue for rural voters who have backed the president and his party in recent elections. But so far on the campaign trail, Trump has dismissed those economic concerns.
While on stage at the rally, Trump signed an executive order that he says will bring down sky-high diesel prices by allowing anyone to purchase red dye diesel tax-free.
Trump says the order marks an “unprecedented step to bring down costs” amid escalating pressure to address surging prices ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Diesel fuel prices have spiked due to the war in Iran, but dyed diesel fuel is cheaper because it’s exempt from federal and state excise taxes.
Trump said the order will save the typical trucker more than $100 each time they fill their tanks and drive down the costs of other goods, including groceries.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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