LOS ANGELES: President Donald Trump suggested to a crowd of his supporters in Nebraska that Iran could `take out` a major US city like Los Angeles or San Diego, drawing a swift rebuke from California`s Democratic leaders and some fellow Republicans.

Trump, speaking at a political rally in the state`s farm belt on Monday, discussed American wartime economic sacrifices and said he was determined to `see a tremendous vic-tory, because it verifies all the things we did.` `And again, remember, with the war, it`s just artificial, it`s a little bit high, it`s a small price to pay,` he told the crowd in Grand Island, Nebraska, apparently referring to rising prices of fuel, fertilizer and other products attributed to energy market disruptions from the war.

`It`s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, for keeping our country safe. They could take out a city. Let `em take outLos Angeles, let `em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it`s going to be over with very soon,` he said.

`It`s essentially almost overwith,`Trumpwent on.

`But it`s going to end very soon, and it`s going to end one way or the other.` On Tuesday, the White House dismissed criticism of the remark. `Themediafreakout over President Trumps comments is not rooted in reality. He was clearly stating US cities would have been threatened if anuclear Iran hadn`t been stopped,` White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung said in a social media post.

`America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.

Trump has shrugged offcost-of-living concerns stemming from the Iran conflict before, and he previously downplayed his concerns about the potential for Iran or its allies to launch an attack on US soil.

The comment in rural Nebraska, a state Trumpwon with more than 55pc of the vote in the 2024 presidential election, targeted Democratic-run cities in California, a solidly Democratic state the president often criticises. Monday`s comments prompted a backlash from California officials.-Reuters