US President Donald Trump described the possible targeting of American cities as a "small price" in a war with Iran, according to Al Jazeera. The remark was reported on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and quickly drew strong backlash, CNN Arabic reported.
Al Jazeera reported that Trump made the comment while discussing the prospect of an Iran conflict. CNN Arabic said the statement assumed Iran could destroy two cities in the United States, and that it triggered a fierce wave of criticism. The pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat also covered the reaction, describing Trump as having angered many with the suggestion that Iran could "destroy" two American cities.
In separate remarks, Trump said Iran is in a bad position and claimed inflation there had reached roughly 300 percent, according to the Saudi newspaper Al Riyadh. He also said a war with Iran would end very quickly, the outlet Ajel reported.
The comments come amid heightened attention on US-Iran tensions. The reporting does not specify when or where Trump made the remarks, or what prompted them.
What to watch next: whether the White House clarifies or walks back the comment, and how Iran and US lawmakers respond in the coming days.
