Trump tries to smooth over controversial remarks about Iran striking San Diego, Los Angeles

(Gray News) – President Donald Trump fought to rally Texas voters behind Senate candidate Ken Paxton Wednesday night, but his remarks were not only focused on Paxton.

Speaking to a packed Freeman Coliseum, Trump clarified recent comments in which he talked about the possibility of Iran bombing American cities as part of a recurring riff about how high fuel costs are “a small price to pay” for the war.

“You want to see trauma? You want to see problems? Let them hit San Diego, let them hit Los Angeles,” Trump said. “We’re not going to let that happen. We protect our cities. We protect our country.”

People at the rally cheered when the president clarified the controversial statements he made earlier in the week at a political rally in Nebraska.

How are California leaders responding?

“Trump thinks he will scare people into voting for MAGA candidates by threatening the bombing of over 16 million Americans. He has lost his mind,” Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on X in response to Trump’s most recent comments at the rally in Texas.

Los Angeles is the most populous city in California and the second most populous in the United States. It has one of the busiest container ports in the Americas and is home to the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command Headquarters.

LA Mayor Karen Bass reacted to Trump’s statement on X saying, “We should not be in a position where we are questioning whether or not the President of the United States is threatening cities in his own country.”

Bass said on X that she called Congressman Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, “to investigate the dangerous threats the President has encouraged this week against Angelenos.”

“The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives,” Bass said on X earlier in the week.

“Seriously, again? How many times do we have to say it? San Diego is not a prop. San Diego is not a target. San Diego is not your applause line,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria wrote on X in response to Trump’s remarks in Texas.

“We are a proud military city full of real people. Stop using us in your reckless war talk.”

San Diego is home to Naval Base San Diego, where the Navy SEALs train. There is a large military presence in the city with 70,000 civilians and active-duty service members living and working in the area.

The president’s message was interrupted in Texas repeatedly by protesters, including one who appeared to be close to the stage. In all, at least a dozen demonstrators interrupted the president. Some were led away by police.

Trump stepped away from the microphone briefly after one interruption.

“He’s going back home to mom,” Trump said. “But what he doesn’t know is his mom voted for Trump.”