David Pollack is pushing back on claims that President Donald Trump invited Iran to attack Los Angeles and San Diego, arguing that a short clip from a rally was stripped of the broader context surrounding Trump’s remarks about the Iran War and higher gas prices.
Pollack said the controversy began after Trump spoke Monday night at a sold-out rally in Nebraska about the economic impact of the conflict.
“No, Trump did not invite Iran to take out Los Angeles and San Diego. It’s fake news. Monday night at a sold-out rally in Nebraska, yes, sold out. Trump was explaining how gas prices were higher because of the Iran War. He called the price hike artificial. Says it’s a small price to pay for keeping the country safe, and then he said this:” Pollack said.
Pollack then played a short clip of Trump.
“Let them let him take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego,” Trump said.
According to Pollack, Democrats and other critics circulated that portion of the remarks without including the surrounding comments.
“And the Democrats seized on it, knowing full well that it was out of context. But to them, truth didn’t matter,” Pollack said.
He pointed specifically to an account associated with Kamala Harris and criticism from Gavin Newsom, saying Trump’s remarks were presented as though he had approved or encouraged an Iranian attack on American cities.
“The old Kamala Harris HQ account made it seem like Trump gave Iran the green light to strike San Diego and Los Angeles, and then of course Gavin Newsom called President Trump deranged and dangerous,” Pollack said.
Pollack also cited a response from CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale and a White House rebuttal to reporting about the remarks.
“The lies got so bad that CNN fact-checked the Democrats. Seriously, posting on his ex account, Daniel Dale said, “This isn’t a direct quote from Trump, and I very much don’t think it’s a correct paraphrase. Even the White House replied to the L.A. Times false reporting on it with, “No, he didn’t say that, you buffoons,” Pollack said.
Pollack argued that the full clip makes Trump’s intended point clearer. He said Trump was contrasting temporary increases in gasoline prices with what he described as the much greater danger posed by a nuclear-armed Iran.
“So anyone who watched the full clip knows what he meant. Trump’s point was that higher gas prices were a small price to pay versus what an Iran with a nuclear weapon left unchecked could do. Watch it for yourself,” Pollack said.
Trump’s longer remarks followed.
“And remember, with the war, it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They can take out a city. Let them take let it let them take out Los Angeles. Let him take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon. It’s essentially almost over with,” Trump said.
Pollack said that context changes the meaning of the disputed line. His argument is that Trump was not inviting Iran to strike the United States, but warning about the destructive capability Iran could possess if allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
Pollack framed the dispute as another example of short political clips being circulated separately from the remarks that came before and after them.
“So there you have it. Just another desperate attempt to smear President Trump,” Pollack said.
He closed by encouraging viewers to circulate the full clip rather than rely on shorter versions of the exchange.
“Send this to somebody who needs to save themselves from the fake news, and they still probably won’t believe it.”
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