White House blasts media coverage of Trump’s remark about Iran destroying LA and San Diego

The Independent, BBC and CBS News report that President Donald Trump is facing criticism from California Democrats after telling a Nebraska rally on Monday that Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego, a remark the White House says was misunderstood, according to CBS News · The Independent.

Trump was discussing the cost of the Iran war, including gas prices, when the crowd cheered the line. The White House rapid response account and Communications Director Steven Cheung said he meant those cities would have been at risk from a nuclear Iran had it not been stopped. The Independent adds that CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale rejected a Harris-linked account's shortened version of the remark, while conceding Trump's delivery was rambling.

Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump "deranged and dangerous" and ordered the State Threat Assessment Center to watch for foreign actors treating the remarks as an invitation. CBS News says Newsom also urged removal under the 25th Amendment. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she was shocked. BBC adds that San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria objected, and that Trump has not responded.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CBS News · The Independent, BBC and CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at CBS News · The Independent → Also at BBC → Also at CBS News →