CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale defended former President Donald Trump’s recent remarks regarding Iran’s potential to attack U.S. cities, arguing that the comments were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
During a rally in Nebraska, Trump suggested that the costs and inflation associated with the Iran war were a “small price to pay for keeping the world safe” and stated, “They could take out a city. Let ’em take out Los Angeles. Let ’em take out San Diego.”
White House staff clarified that Trump was not advocating for Iran to attack U.S. cities but rather aiming to prevent Tehran from acquiring the capability to do so.
An account associated with Democrats, @HQNewsNow, shared a clip of Trump’s remarks with the caption, “Trump on Iran: Let ’em take out Los Angeles and San Diego, it’s a small price to pay.”
Dale took to social media to object to this framing. "This isn’t a direct quote from Trump, and I very much don’t think it’s a correct paraphrase," he stated. He added that Trump has consistently argued that the consequences of the war, such as increased gas prices, are a minor cost compared to the potential actions of an unchecked Iran.
Dale suggested that understanding Trump’s meaning required familiarity with his typical rally speaking style. While acknowledging that it is “inappropriate” for a president to “casually float the possibility of a city being wiped out,” he emphasized that the context of the remarks is important.
Dale, who frequently scrutinizes and debunks Trump’s statements, noted that his defense of the president's remarks was unusual. He pointed out that Trump has repeatedly linked the ongoing conflict and its economic effects to the need to deter Iran's military capabilities.