Bass says Trump suggested a foreign government attack Los Angeles
Karen BassMayor of Los Angeles
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X that the president "suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles," that his statements were dangerous and could compromise the city's safety, and that "The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives."
Responding to
Trump was saying that foreign enemies of the United States should "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego.
“The President of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles. His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety.”
Original post
Where this statement fits
What did Trump mean when he said 'Let them take out Los Angeles' at a Nebraska rally?
At a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, on October 5, 2026, President Donald Trump called the costs of the Iran war "a small price to pay for keeping the world safe" and said, "They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego." The passage followed remarks about the midterm elections and did not mention nuclear weapons; Trump had said earlier in the speech that Iran will not have one. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the mayors of Los Angeles and San Diego and other critics said Trump was inviting attacks on the two cities or treating them as an acceptable price for the war. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said Trump was stating that U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran had not been stopped. The dispute is over what Trump meant.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass's post on her official X account, quoting a clip of the rally remark.
Before the quotation
Bass posted later that evening, quoting a video clip of the rally remark.
After the quotation
She added, "In the face of irresponsible threats, as Angelenos, we know how to stand together and protect our city."
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is whether Trump's remark meant Iranian attacks on Los Angeles and San Diego would be an acceptable price for the war, as critics read it, rather than that the war prevents a nuclear Iran from being able to attack them, as the White House says. Bass says Trump suggested that a foreign government attack the city and that he encouraged attacks on Americans, which asserts and condemns the critics' reading. The closest competing label is Challenged the characterization, but she states her own reading of the remark and criticizes it rather than only disputing a description. Evidence: Bass's own post on X.
- Recorded on
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- People and groups discussed
- Donald Trump
More from this case
Read the full caseDemocratic National Committee calls the remark 'disgusting and dangerous'
Democratic National Committee
“Disgusting and dangerous. End the war and hold him accountable.”Read statement
Todd Gloria says no American city should be "an acceptable price to pay" and asks Trump to retract the remark
“No American city, regardless of its politics or geography, should ever be described as expendable or an acceptable price to pay.”Read statement
White House Rapid Response account says Trump meant stopping a nuclear Iran
Rapid Response 47
“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”Read statement
Cite this record
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Bass says Trump suggested a foreign government attack Los Angeles
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/4879-los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-wrote-on-x
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Bass says Trump suggested a foreign government attack Los Angeles". First published: 2026-10-06. Last updated: 2026-10-06. https://disputeindex.com/events/4879-los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-wrote-on-x