Updated

President Trump told a rally in Nebraska that Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles or San Diego, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to call the comments 'deranged and dangerous' and order the state's threat-assessment center to actively monitor for possible threats. The White House defended the remark as the comment's context was scrutinized by fact-checkers and media outlets. The episode drew condemnation from Democratic leaders in California, two cities frequently targeted by the Trump administration politically, and fueled wider debate about the administration's rhetoric amid the ongoing Iran conflict.