Politicians Reject Trump’s Suggestion That US Cities Could Be Sacrificed in Iran War

Political leaders from both the Democratic and Republican parties have criticised US President Donald Trump after he suggested that Iran could attack the American cities of Los Angeles and San Diego as a possible “small price” for ending the war.

Trump made the comments during a campaign rally in Nebraska on Monday, saying Americans should be prepared to make sacrifices to achieve victory in the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran.

“They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” Trump said, arguing that such losses would be a small price to pay for protecting the United States and the wider world.

The remarks quickly drew criticism, including from California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and long-time Trump critic.

Newsom described the comments as dangerous and urged Congress to take action over the president’s statements. He also recalled Trump’s previous deployment of federal forces and Marines to Los Angeles during a crackdown on undocumented immigration.

Several Republicans also distanced themselves from Trump’s remarks.

Jim Desmond, a Republican congressional candidate from the San Diego area, said he strongly disagreed with the president, stressing that the US government’s primary responsibility was to protect American citizens.

“No American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage,” Desmond said.

Republican Representative Kevin Kiley of California also described Trump’s comments as “unhelpful.”

However, the White House rejected the criticism, saying Trump was referring to the potential threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said the president was making the point that US cities could have faced greater threats if Iran had developed nuclear weapons.

The comments come as the Iran war enters its eighth month, with Trump continuing to say that the conflict will end soon despite the absence of a lasting ceasefire.

The controversy also comes ahead of the November US midterm elections, in which all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and about one-third of the Senate seats will be contested.

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