Trump 'suggests' Iran bomb two American cities!
Washington – Islamabad – Agencies: U.S. President Donald Trump sparked widespread controversy yesterday after suggesting that the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego could be targeted in an Iranian attack, describing such a scenario as a “small price” to pay for preserving the security of the United States and the world. During a campaign rally in Nebraska, Trump characterized the rise in U.S. fuel prices as “artificial” and “a little high,” before stating, “It’s a small price to pay to keep the world safe, to keep our country safe.” He added, “They can destroy a city. Let them take Los Angeles, let them take San Diego. That’s a very small price to pay.”
Trump then shifted to discussing the possibility that Iran could destroy a major American city if allowed to develop nuclear weapons, remarks that drew broad criticism online. California Governor Gavin Newsome condemned Trump’s comments, writing on the platform X, “Let’s be clear: The president is calling for an attack on more than 10 million American residents in two of America’s largest cities.” He added, “This is not normal. None of this is normal, and we will continue to remind people of that every day.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, in a separate post, stated, “The president’s role is to protect the country, not to directly threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives.” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria remarked, “San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable, and we will never be a small price to pay. Keep our city out of your reckless talk of war.”
Marni von Wilbert, a San Diego City Council member and Democratic congressional candidate, suggested that Trump’s remarks could form the basis for his third impeachment, a first in U.S. history. Even Jim Desmond, a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, a former U.S. Navy veteran, and a Trump-backed Republican candidate in his race against von Wilbert, said he “strongly opposes” the president’s comments.
Meanwhile, Trump affirmed that ongoing military operations against Iran would end soon “one way or another,” emphasizing that Washington’s actions protect the world from “the worst catastrophe ever.” In press remarks, Trump clarified that U.S. forces had destroyed Iranian radar and air defense systems and had established control over the Strait of Hormuz.
In a related development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated yesterday that Islamabad had played a crucial mediating role between Washington and Tehran, urging an end to the war in the Middle East. Speaking to journalists in the Pakistani capital, he said that Pakistan’s mediation between the United States and Iran to end the Middle East conflict demonstrated that it “is trusted, even by countries that are at odds with each other.”
Pakistan mediated a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States in June, which collapsed in July amid the resumption of Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. military strikes on the Islamic Republic. Guterres said, “We can only hope that Pakistan’s efforts continue, succeed, and that we finally see peace in the Middle East.” He added, “I would like to send a strong and clear message to all parties: end the conflict, return to diplomacy, and fully restore the rights and freedoms of navigation in accordance with international law.”
