Trump defends Iran-war costs Bass condemns city remarks

Oct 5

The report first relays the International Chamber of Commerce secretary-general's warning to The Wall Street Journal that Hormuz disruption has cut fertilizer capacity by nearly 40 percent and could raise grain prices by up to 80 percent unless shipping resumes. It then reports Trump's October 5 Grand Island campaign defense of the Iran war and high fuel costs. His aired remarks describe a small price for security, refer to Los Angeles and San Diego being taken out, and predict a quick war end. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemns the remarks as threatening American lives. No achieved war end or definite interpretation of Trump's intent is established.

At the Nebraska rally Trump says Iran's navy, air force and leadership have been destroyed and asserts U.S. control and record shipping through Hormuz. He defends the war's cost as a small price for preventing an Iranian nuclear threat to U.S. cities, says it is almost over and predicts an end soon one way or another and subsequent price relief. He praises missile interceptors and their operators. These are his military claims and forecasts; the speech establishes no end of hostilities or agreement. Democracy Now replays the same October 5 cost-defense statement about preventing threats to U.S. cities. Goodman says Trump named Los Angeles and San Diego, and quotes Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemning his remarks as threatening to allow harm. Trump's stated nuclear-threat rationale and war-end forecast remain in the original recording; the later report's characterization and Bass's criticism are attributed, without a newly inferred threat or separate October 6 Trump statement.