Trump Denies Urging Iranian Strikes on California After Repeated Remarks
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he had not encouraged Iran to attack San Diego and Los Angeles, despite having made such comments on three occasions. He made the remarks at a Nebraska rally, in Texas, and to reporters, suggesting missile strikes on the two cities would be a small price. He later dismissed coverage of his own statements as fake and artificial news.
At a Nebraska midterm rally in Grand Island, Trump said letting Iran strike Los Angeles and San Diego would be a minor cost for protecting the world and the country. He repeated the idea in Texas and again while speaking with reporters that night.
On Truth Social Thursday, he denied that he had urged Iran to hit those cities. He dismissed coverage as false and manufactured, saying his comparison concerned a short-term gasoline price increase versus preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and that everyone knew this.
The remarks and denial could deepen public uncertainty about presidential rhetoric on military matters. Residents of San Diego and Los Angeles may feel targeted or alarmed, while voters and foreign governments could question the consistency of U.S. signals. Media coverage may intensify scrutiny of Trump’s statements, but concrete policy effects remain unclear.