While speaking at a rally in Nebraska, Donald Trump suggested paying a ‘small price’ and letting Iran ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego.
Speaking about the ongoing war in Iran, Trump called the increased gas prices facing Americans ‘artificial’ and ‘a little bit high’.
He added: ‘It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe.
‘They can take out a city—let ’em take, let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego. That’s—this is a very small price to pay.’
Trump pivoted the conversation to speaking about how Iran could take out a large American city if allowed to develop nuclear weapons, but the comments have sparked furore online.
No other US President has suggested a foreign country should bomb or attack a US city as an ‘acceptable’ cost of a conflict overseas.
Trump’s suggestion was slammed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who wrote on X: ‘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.’
The conflict in Iran is at a standstill as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and gas prices around the world skyrocket.
Despite growing discontent with the war, Trump has continued to vow to ‘beat the f***ing s***’ out of the country.
This week, Trump removed all US bombers from RAF Fairford after a specific threat from Iran.
Fighter jets, including B-1s and B-2s, were seen flying out of the Gloucestershire base more than a week after it was embroiled in the suspected attack on September 27.
UK military bases, including Fairford -which was home to US Air Force jets until yesterday – have been on high alert since the incident.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said the US knew of a ‘threat’, which led them to move the bombers.
‘They didn’t fly out by accident. There were some threats and rather than tempting the enemy, we will capture the enemy and beat the enemy. But why should we leave them there?’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
MORE: Trump concerned by Russia plague ‘outbreak’ and says microbes are ‘stronger and smarter’
MORE: Trump baffles crowd by asking if vegans ‘eat lettuce all day long’
MORE: UK-Iranian RAF Fairford terror suspect bailed as Westminster addresses searched