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Trump Reiterates 'Let Them Hit' Comment, Claims to Protect Cities

Trump says Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles or San Diego, then clarifies he meant to protect cities, sparking backlash.

By Kyla Guilfoil·Oct 8·nbcnews.com·1 min read

Intelligence analysis by Qwen 2.5 (3B)

Trump Reiterates 'Let Them Hit' Comment, Claims to Protect Cities
Image: nbcnews.com

President Trump reiterates controversial comments about Iran potentially targeting U.S. cities, claiming to protect them, despite backlash.

Why it matters

Trump's comments have drawn criticism, with some accusing him of inciting foreign enemies to attack U.S. cities.

Trump said Iran could hurt big cities like Los Angeles or San Diego. He said the U.S. would protect those cities if that happened.

Analysis

{"heading_1":"Initial Controversy","subheading_1":"Trump's Original Comments","content_1":"On October 6, Trump made controversial remarks at a rally in Nebraska, suggesting Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles or San Diego if they develop a nuclear weapon. The comments sparked immediate backlash, particularly from California Democrats.","subheading_2":"Trump's Clarification","content_2":"Trump attempted to clarify his comments on October 7, stating that he had 'no choice' if Iran developed a nuclear weapon. He claimed that the U.S. would 'protect our cities' and 'protect our country' in such a scenario.","subheading_3":"Reaction and Context","content_3":"The rally in San Antonio where Trump made the clarification was attended by Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for the Senate. The event was marred by interruptions from protesters and a physical altercation involving a protester and a person in the audience."}

Key points

  • Trump reiterates controversial comments about Iran potentially targeting U.S. cities
  • Trump claims to protect U.S. cities if Iran develops a nuclear weapon
  • The comments have sparked backlash from California Democrats
The Upside

If the U.S. successfully prevents Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, Trump's comments could be seen as a warning to Iran and a reassurance to the American people.

The Downside

If Iran does develop a nuclear weapon, Trump's comments could be seen as a threat to U.S. cities, leading to potential attacks and causing panic.

Originally reported at

nbcnews.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsus-politicsiranpoliticstrumpiran-nuclear

Author

Kyla Guilfoil

Intelligence analysis by

Qwen 2.5 (3B)

Published

Oct 8, 2026

Source

nbcnews.com

Share

Topics

us-politicsiranpoliticstrumpiran-nuclear

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