California Officials Condemn Trump Remarks About Los Angeles and San Diego

-Editorial

California officials criticized President Donald Trump after remarks at a campaign rally in Nebraska in which he referenced the possibility of Los Angeles or San Diego being attacked while defending U.S. military action against Iran.

Speaking in Grand Island, Nebraska, Trump addressed the ongoing conflict with Iran and the economic costs associated with U.S. involvement, describing those costs as a “small price to pay” for protecting the United States and global security.

“They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego,” Trump said. “This is a very small price to pay and it’s going to be over very soon.”

The comments prompted criticism from California officials, while the White House disputed interpretations that Trump was suggesting an attack on the two cities would be acceptable.

Administration officials said Trump’s remarks were intended to underscore the threat posed by Iran and the rationale for U.S. military action. The White House said the president was arguing that the United States is seeking to prevent Iran from obtaining the capability to attack American cities with nuclear weapons, not encouraging or accepting an attack on California.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria called on Trump to retract the remarks and apologize, citing San Diego’s population and significant military presence.

“San Diego serves America,” Gloria said in a statement. “We are an anchor of our nation’s security in the Pacific and home to one of the largest concentrations of military assets in the world.”

Gloria said the city’s service members, shipbuilders, scientists, researchers and other residents should not be characterized as an acceptable loss in a military conflict.

“No American city, regardless of its politics or geography, should ever be described as expendable or an acceptable price to pay,” Gloria said.

The mayor said protecting Americans is a fundamental responsibility of the presidency and argued that the commander in chief has an obligation to protect communities throughout the country.

“A President does not get to decide which American communities are worth protecting,” Gloria said. “His duty is to all of us.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also criticized Trump’s remarks, saying they could create security concerns for the nation’s second-largest city.

Bass said the president had suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles and described his statements about the city as dangerous and potentially compromising to public safety.

“The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives,” Bass said in a statement.

Bass added that Los Angeles residents would stand together in response to what she characterized as irresponsible threats.

“In the face of irresponsible threats, as Angelenos, we know how to stand together and protect our city,” Bass said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom also criticized Trump’s comments, describing them as “dangerous — if not treasonous” and saying they could place Los Angeles, San Diego and major military facilities at greater risk.

Newsom said he directed the California State Threat Assessment Center to monitor developments in case foreign actors interpret Trump’s statements as an invitation to target the state.