‘Deranged’ and ‘dangerous’ Trump calls for Iran to strike US cities amid historic ratings low | First Thing

California’s leaders attack president after he suggests Iran could ‘take out’ Los Angeles or San Diego. Plus an auction of some of the most famous props in movie history

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Good morning. Donald Trump has suggested Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego, in comments described as “reckless” and “deranged” by California officials. At a rally in Nebraska on Monday, the crowd applauded when the US president said high prices owing to the war with Iran were a “small price to pay for keeping the world safe – keeping our country safe”. He added: “They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.”

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California and a Democrat who has repeatedly clashed with Trump during his two terms, said from his press office account: “Let’s be clear: the president is advocating for an attack on 10+ million US residents in two of America’s largest cities. This is not normal … He is deranged and dangerous.”

What is happening with Trump’s approval rating? A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump’s approval rating at a record low of 32% and the president losing support among independent voters and Latinos, who had backed him in 2024. The dip comes before the crucial midterm elections in November that will determine control of Congress.

What is the latest with taxpayer-funded Trump ads? After repeated criticism, Trump said on Monday he would pay for the hitherto taxpayer-funded ads from Maga Inc, his political war chest. He provided no details on reimbursing taxpayers for ads that had already aired, nor how he would go about having his political organization pay for such advertising.

Why has Iran’s oil minister resigned? Mohsen Paknejad has resigned days after allegations that an intermediary trust selling Iranian oil abroad owed millions of dollars-worth of export receipts to the state. Iran is grappling with a dire economic situation, including inflation running at 85%.

What is behind the latest disagreement between Israel and the UK? It stems from the UK’s decision to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank – a move that Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s foreign minister, labelled “morally distorted”. Israel has threatened to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, prompting the UK to warn it will expel one Israeli diplomat for every British diplomat forced out.

Why has the Green party in England and Wales been condemned over its Zionism policy? The English and Welsh Greens are facing international ostracism after adopting a policy declaring Zionism as a form of racism, which has drawn dismay from the group representing European Greens. The co-leader of the German Greens separately said the policy was “intolerable and unacceptable”.