The White House has defended President Trump after he sparked backlash with remarks suggesting Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego.

Mayor Todd Gloria issued the following statement Tuesday morning:

“San Diego serves America. We are an anchor of our nation’s security in the Pacific and home to one of the largest concentrations of military assets in the world. Our servicemembers defend this country. Our shipbuilders keep the fleet ready. Our scientists and researchers develop treatments and technologies that improve lives across the nation.

“These are not abstractions or statistics. They are our neighbors, friends and family—among the nearly 1.4 million people who call San Diego home and whose lives the President so casually dismissed.

“The most fundamental responsibility of a President is to protect the American people—all of them. No American city, regardless of its politics or geography, should ever be described as expendable or an acceptable price to pay.

“San Diegans deserve a President who values their lives, honors the service and sacrifice of our military families, and takes seriously his responsibility as Commander in Chief. President Trump should retract these remarks and apologize to the people of San Diego. A President does not get to decide which American communities are worth protecting. His duty is to all of us.”

San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, who is running for Congress in the 48th District, issued a statement on X:

"I vehemently disagree with President Trump’s comments. America must stand up to Iran and defend our interests, but the first responsibility of our Commander in Chief is to protect the American people and our homeland. As a Navy veteran, I served to protect Americans, not write off American cities as an acceptable price of war. Our job is to keep Americans safe, stand up to our enemies, and make sure a threat like that never becomes reality. No American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage."

Democratic San Diego City Council member Marni Von Wilpert, who is also running for the 48th District Congressional seat also issued a statement:

“Donald Trump says Los Angeles and San Diego being attacked would be ‘a small price to pay’ for his reckless Iran war. That is appalling and terrifying. Californians are already paying for this terrible war every time we fill up the tank. Now, the President is talking about a foreign government attacking a United States city as if it was just the cost of doing business.

This is an impeachable offense by the Commander in Chief, who swore an oath to protect our country. Our homes, our families and our communities cannot be treated as collateral damage or a political punchline by this President. It’s indefensible that Jim Desmond continues to support Trump’s war and continues to be backed and funded by a President who jokes about the 1.4 million people in San Diego being “taken out” by a foreign adversary. We’ve paid enough for this war. It’s time to end it.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X:

“Disgusting and disqualifying. Donald Trump’s remarks were dangerous — if not treasonous — putting a target on two of our biggest cities and one of America’s largest naval hubs. I am directing the State Threat Assessment Center to actively monitor the situation in the event that foreign actors interpret the President’s remarks as an invitation to target California."

On Tuesday morning, the White House’s Rapid Response X account denied that Trump had suggested letting Iran “take out” the second- and eighth-largest cities in the country. “No, he didn’t, you buffoons. He was saying the U.S. is fighting to STOP Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon—which they would if they had the chance,” the account wrote.

WATCH VIDEO of President Trump's remarks below.

(Photo Getty Images)

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