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Trump's 'Take Out' Remarks Spark Backlash
Confirmed
In Short: Despite the White House's attempts to clarify, the backlash continued, with California politicians and national Democrats condemning Trump's remarks as reckless and dangerous.
President Donald Trump's remarks about Iran potentially 'taking out' Los Angeles and San Diego have sparked a firestorm of criticism, with Democrats and California leaders denouncing the statements as dangerous and potentially treasonous.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, wrote on X, 'I can’t believe we have to say this, but the annihilation of two major American cities — more than 5 million people — is not a ‘small price to pay’ for Trump’s illegal war.'
California Governor Gavin Newsom also criticized Trump, calling his comments 'dangerous — if not treasonous,' and directing California's State Threat Assessment Center to monitor the situation.
Trump's comments were made during a political rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, where he said, 'They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.' He added, 'This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon.'
The White House, however, pushed back on the criticism, with Communications Director Steven Cheung calling the backlash a 'media freakout' and suggesting that Trump's comments were taken out of context.
Trump's Rapid Response Team said his comments were meant as a warning about the threat Tehran could pose if it developed a nuclear weapon, not as an encouragement for an attack.
The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and California leaders, who have frequently clashed over issues such as immigration, state elections, and wildfires.
Trump's comments have also raised concerns about the potential for foreign actors to misinterpret his statements as an invitation to target California.
While the White House maintains that Trump's comments were misunderstood, the widespread condemnation suggests that his remarks have had a significant impact on public perception and political discourse.
Background
President Donald Trump suggested Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego if it developed a nuclear weapon, drawing condemnation from California leaders.
A take-out or takeaway is a prepared meal or other food items purchased at a restaurant or fast food outlet with the intent to eat elsewhere. A concept found in many ancient cultures, take-out food is common worldwide, with a number of different cuisines and dishes on offer.
What's confirmed
- “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 wrote on X.
- The morning after Trump's statement, Governor Newsom announced that the "dangerous - if not treasonous" statement had prompted him to direct California's State Threat Assessment Center to "monitor the situation in the event that foreign actors interpret the remarks as an invitation" to target California.
- Gavin Newsom criticized Trump’s comments, calling him “deranged” and “dangerous.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also took to social media to say the president’s comments were “dangerous” and could “potentially compromise our safety.” Following the backlash, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said on social media that the president’s comments were being misunderstood.
What's still developing
- “It’s essentially almost over with.” The speech quickly drew outraged responses from Democrats in California and nationally.
- Peters said she has traveled to Washington seven times, visited the White House at least twice, and met with senior officials at the Justice and Commerce departments — remarkable access for someone on parole after a 2024 felony conviction for tampering with voting machines in an attempt to show that the 2020 election was rigged against President Donald Trump.
- “No, he didn’t, you buffoons,” the account wrote, rejecting the suggestion Trump was accepting or encouraging an attack.
- Meta’s next smart glasses could lose the camera OpenAI is footing the bill for more biology data GLP-1s are finding a life beyond weight loss Image source: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty / Images 2.5 The Rundown: Meta is reportedly dropping the camera from its next smart glasses as backlash over covert filming mounts, with an audio-focused pair codenamed Luna due this fall, The Information reports.
- “America must stand up to Iran and defend our interests, but the first responsibility of our Commander in Chief is to protect the American people and our homeland,” said Desmond, who is running in California’s 48th Congressional district.
- The president also repeated during his speech in Nebraska that the war is “going to end very soon.” At the onset of the war, Trump had vowed that the conflict would only last a few weeks, but it has since gone on seven months.
- Trump’s remarks were admittedly confusing, in keeping with his characteristically roundabout style of speaking.