Donald Trump's remark that Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego has sparked fierce backlash from California politicians - and a strongly worded rebuttal from the White House.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the comment - made by Trump at a campaign rally in Nebraska - as "deranged and dangerous," while LA Mayor Karen Bass described them as threats and an attempt to "encourage attacks on American lives".
According to the White House, however, Trump was saying that American cities would have been threatened by Iran had he not launched a war there earlier this year.
Both LA and San Diego house major US military installations including Navy ports and Air Force bases.
Trump, while speaking on Monday in Nebraska about the Iran conflict, said: "It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego."
There were cheers from sections of the audience as the comments about the two Californian cities were made.
The morning after Trump's statement, Governor Newsom announced that the "dangerous - if not treasonous" statement had prompted him to direct California's State Threat Assessment Center to "monitor the situation in the event that foreign actors interpret the remarks as an invitation" to target California.
FULL REPORT AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6r7yn8pknyxo
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