US President Donald Trump told Iran to attack Los Angeles or San Diego, calling it a "small price to pay" for keeping the world safe, as he claimed the US is "kicking Iran's ass" and that the war is "essentially almost over."
Rally remarks in Nebraska
Trump made the remarks during a speech at a rally at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday evening, as he campaigned alongside Pete Ricketts. He spoke on several issues and signed an order extending tax-free use of red dye diesel.
He told the crowd: "By the way, we're kicking Iran's ass, you do know that, right?"
'Small price to pay' for safety
The president then appeared to provoke Iran to target major cities in California, saying: "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. They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles or San Diego. This is a very small price to pay."
Trump added: "It's essentially almost over. They always say they have a big threshold for pain, let me tell you, they need it. It's going to end very soon and it'll end one way or the other."
Fuel prices expected to fall
The president also said fuel prices will change very shortly, suggesting the war is nearly over. "It'll end very quickly and prices are gonna come down very sharply. You might say, 'Please, please, Sir, it's going down too fast!' You watch," he said.
His speech comes as part of what the Republican president says is a 32-day blitz of rallies ahead of November 3. He has travelled to Oklahoma and Alabama so far. On Wednesday, he will make his second stop in two weeks in Texas with a rally in San Antonio.
