Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says she was horrified after President Trump told a Nebraska rally that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego and that it would be a very small price to pay for keeping the country safe.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she was horrified after President Donald Trump suggested during a rally in Nebraska that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego, describing such a loss as a “small price to pay” for keeping the country safe.

Trump made the comments Monday while defending the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and discussing rising prices linked to the war. Speaking to supporters in Grand Island, Nebraska, he said the economic costs were a small price to pay for national security before adding that Iran could “take out a city” and specifically naming Los Angeles and San Diego. 

Bass reacted strongly to the remarks, saying she was shocked by the president’s words.

“Maybe at this point I shouldn’t be, but I was just shocked,” Bass said when asked about her initial reaction. She later said the comments amounted to a president inviting a country with which the United States is at war to attack an American city. 

In a statement, Bass said Trump’s comments were dangerous and could potentially compromise the safety of Los Angeles.

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

California Gov. Gavin Newsom also condemned the remarks, calling them “deranged and dangerous.” Newsom said he was directing the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor the situation in case foreign actors interpreted Trump’s words as an invitation to target California. 

The White House, however, rejected the interpretation that Trump was encouraging Iran to attack American cities. Communications Director Steven Cheung said Trump was warning about the threat a nuclear-armed Iran could pose to U.S. cities and arguing that the United States was acting to prevent that possibility. 

The comments have nevertheless triggered widespread criticism from California officials, including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who said his city was “not collateral damage” and should not be treated as an acceptable cost of the conflict. 

The controversy has added another layer to the growing political dispute over Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, particularly as California officials question whether his rhetoric could have consequences for the safety of millions of residents.