At a Texas rally on Wednesday, President Donald Trump told a crowd that the United States would stop any Iranian missile striking Los Angeles or San Diego. He added, "You want to see a horror show? Let them hit San Diego. Let them hit Los Angeles if you want to see some bad things happen," but then clarified he would "protect our cities".
California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the comments as "deranged and dangerous," while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the remarks could compromise city safety and may prompt a congressional inquiry.
White House communications director Steven Cheung countered that Trump had referred to a hypothetical nuclear scenario and that his words were misrepresented.
The rally also served as a platform for Trump to support Texas Republican attorney general Ken Paxton's bid for the U.S. Senate, amid growing protests that cut his speech short.
In addition, Trump announced that former MLB star Roger Clemens would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.