Politicians slam Trump’s suggestion that Iran ‘take’ San Diego, Los Angeles
US President Donald Trump faced bipartisan backlash after suggesting that sacrificing cities like Los Angeles and San Diego would be a small price to pay to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The White House clarified the remarks as a hypothetical warning about the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran.
Why it matters
The comments have sparked a significant political controversy regarding the President's rhetoric on national security and the expendability of American cities.
Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed outrage at Trump’s remarks, as the White House disputed their interpretation.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info US President Donald Trump dances on stage during a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, on October 5, 2026 [Nathan Howard/Reuters] By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters Published On 7 Oct 2026 7 Oct 2026 | Updated: 5 hours ago Updated: 5 hours ago Members of the Republican Party have joined Democrats in questioning remarks made by United States President Donald Trump about the California cities of Los Angeles and San Diego.
Much of the backlash came on Tuesday, a day after Trump told a midterm rally in Nebraska that Americans should be willing to make sacrifices to deny Iran a nuclear weapon — even though Tehran has long rejected accusations that it is seeking atomic bombs.
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