Russell disputes the interpretation that Trump invited an attack
Nicole RussellUSA TODAY opinion columnist
Russell calls Trump's wording clumsy and rambling but argues that the full passage concerned gasoline prices and preventing a nuclear threat.
“But to suggest Trump was goading Iran into attacking LA or San Diego is asinine.”
Analysis
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
Analysis
About this source
Russell argues that Trump was comparing fuel costs with the danger of a nuclear Iran.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The column quotes the Nebraska passage and compares it with earlier remarks about fuel prices and Iran.
After the quotation
Russell criticizes Democrats and news coverage for what she sees as omitting that context.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to the meaning of Trump's Nebraska remarks, Russell rejects the interpretation that he was encouraging Iran to attack the cities.
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The Dispute Index. "Russell disputes the interpretation that Trump invited an attack". First published: 2026-10-25. Last updated: 2026-10-25. https://disputeindex.com/events/6753-russell-calls-trump-s-wording-clumsy-and-rambling