California Democrats have condemned Donald Trump after he joked during a Nebraska rally that the United States should allow Iran to “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego.
Trump appeared in Grand Island with Republican Senator Pete Ricketts, who is facing an independent challenger supported by national Democratic groups.
While defending the war with Iran, Trump argued that rising gas prices were a relatively minor sacrifice compared with preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He also said he hoped to reduce diesel costs through an executive order expanding access to tax-exempt fuel.
“And again, remember, with the war, it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” Trump told the crowd.
He went on to say that a nuclear-armed Iran could potentially destroy an American city.
“Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” Trump said, drawing cheers and applause from supporters.
“This is a very small price to pay, and it’s gonna be over with very soon. It’s essentially almost over with,” he added.
The mayors of both Los Angeles and San Diego sharply criticized Trump after he appeared to dismiss the remarks as a joke about either city being attacked by Iran.
California Democrats condemned Donald Trump after he joked at a Nebraska rally that Iran should be allowed to “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticized Trump after he suggested he had been joking about Iran attacking either California city
“The President of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles. His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told Our News Outlet.
“The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives.”
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who is also a Democrat, said: “San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable. And we are never a ‘small price to pay.’ Keep our city out of your reckless war talk.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a frequent political rival of Trump who has his own presidential ambitions, also responded to the comments.
“After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego. He is deranged and dangerous,” Newsom said.
Our News Outlet has contacted the White House for a response.
Trump also used the rally to announce that he had signed an executive order intended to bring down record diesel prices. The surge in fuel costs has placed mounting pressure on truckers, businesses and consumers just weeks before the midterm elections.
Diesel prices climbed to roughly $6.50 a gallon last month, adding to concerns at the White House as the November 3 vote nears. Higher fuel costs could increase the price of transporting goods nationwide, from groceries to construction supplies.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a longtime political adversary of Trump with presidential ambitions, also weighed in and described Trump as “deranged”
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, a Democrat like Bass and Newsom, said: “San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable. And we are never a ‘small price to pay.’ Keep our city out of your reckless war talk.”
The dramatic spike has been fueled by turmoil overseas and in response to the wars in Iran and Ukraine which have led to attacks on refineries in Russia and the Middle East.
Trump’s new order seeks to rapidly expand the amount of diesel available to American motorists and businesses, including by opening the door to greater use of so-called red-dyed diesel.
Red dye diesel is normally reserved for agriculture, construction equipment and other off-road uses and is exempt from federal highway taxes.
The order will likely direct the Department of Transportation to coordinate with states to waive taxes on road diesel.
Under the administration’s plan, restrictions could be temporarily eased to allow more of that fuel into the road transportation market as officials scramble to increase supply and push prices lower.
The executive order is also expected to direct the Department of Transportation to work with states on potentially waiving taxes imposed on diesel used on highways.
The move marks the latest attempt by Trump to tackle a fuel-price surge that has become an increasingly urgent economic and political problem ahead of the midterms.
Truckers have been particularly exposed because diesel is the lifeblood of America’s freight network, with higher prices rapidly translating into increased costs for companies moving goods thousands of miles around the country.
Those costs can ultimately ripple through the economy as businesses decide whether to absorb the increase or pass it on to consumers.
Trump had already piled pressure on America’s allies to take action over the crunch and even considered banning US diesel exports in an effort to keep more fuel at home.
G7 nations announced last week that they would release 100 million barrels of diesel and other fuel from emergency stockpiles in an effort to calm markets and bolster supplies.
But questions remain over how much of that promised release represents genuinely additional fuel rather than barrels that countries had already committed to making available under a global agreement reached in March.
