Trump doubles down on California comments: 'Let them hit San Diego, let them hit Los Angeles'

Reported by The Hill. The paragraphs below are the opening of that article, reproduced word for word — not a summary, and not the whole piece.

President Trump doubled down on his comments suggesting Iran could hit Los Angeles and San Diego during a rally in Texas on Wednesday, adding that the U.S. would not let such a scenario play out.

“You want to see trauma? You want to see problems? And I said it the other day, let them hit a missile into San Diego or Los Angeles on the way. You want to see a horror show? Let them hit San Diego. Let them hit Los Angeles,” Trump said, speaking at a campaign rally in San Antonio.

“You want to see some bad things happen? You want see a country in free fall? We’re not going to let that happen,” he continued.

California leaders lashed out at Trump after he suggested at a rally in Nebraska on Monday that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego.

The state’s Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) told The Hill on Tuesday that Trump was “mentally ill” and called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) called the comments “dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety,” while San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (D) said in a statement the city was “not collateral damage.”