Bass says the remarks could give Iran a green light
Karen BassMayor of Los Angeles
Bass criticizes Trump's language after his San Antonio rally and says it could encourage Iran to attack American cities. NBC reports she may seek a congressional investigation.
“To do that makes us look ridiculous on the world stage, but it also gives a green light to Iran, the nation that he chose to attack, the green light to attack our cities”
Reporting
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
Reporting
About this source
NBC News reports the follow-up rally remarks and interviews Mayor Karen Bass after the event.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
NBC interviews Bass after Trump says the United States protects its cities and would not allow such attacks.
After the quotation
Her response calls for an apology to Los Angeles and San Diego.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to Trump's remarks about the two cities, Bass criticizes their danger and their effect on how Iran could interpret U.S. policy.
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More from this case
Read the full caseLegal advisory board condemns Trump's language about the cities
The Daily Record Editorial Advisory Board
“His language, his disregard for the lives of millions, is very very distressing.”Read statement
Trump says his comparison concerned gasoline prices and city safety
“All I was doing was making a comparison between paying a little more, for a short time, for Gasoline, versus the bombing of our Major Cities.”Read statement
Russell disputes the interpretation that Trump invited an attack
“But to suggest Trump was goading Iran into attacking LA or San Diego is asinine.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Bass says the remarks could give Iran a green light". First published: 2026-10-25. Last updated: 2026-10-25. https://disputeindex.com/events/6751-bass-criticizes-trump-s-language-after-his-san