President Donald Trump suggested during a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday night that Iran could take out Los Angeles and San Diego, framing the potential loss of two major American cities as a small price to pay for keeping the world safe. The remark, delivered while he defended his administration's military operations against Iran amid rising costs for U.S. consumers, drew cheers from sections of the audience and immediate condemnation from California's top officials. Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump deranged and dangerous, while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria issued sharp rebukes, setting off a fierce political clash just weeks before the November midterm elections.

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President Donald Trump's suggestion that Iran could take out Los Angeles and San Diego has triggered a sharp and swift backlash from California's political leadership, turning a rally remark about the costs of war into a national controversy with implications for both foreign policy and the upcoming midterm elections. The comment came Monday night during a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, where Trump was defending his administration's military operations against Iran despite rising costs for U.S. consumers. According to reporting from The Hill, CBS News, BBC News, and The Guardian, Trump described the war as a small price to pay for keeping the world safe and keeping the country safe, before adding that Tehran could take out a city and naming Los Angeles and San Diego as examples. Attendees cheered after the suggestion, according to CBS News.

It was not immediately clear what Trump meant by the remarks, and he has yet to respond to the criticism from California leaders. The White House has not issued a formal clarification. Trump also suggested the war in Iran will end very quickly, one way or the other, very soon.

Governor Gavin Newsom, who has repeatedly clashed with Trump during his two terms and is weighing a presidential run in 2028, responded forcefully. According to The Hill and The Guardian, Newsom accused Trump of encouraging attacks on the two California cities. From his press office account, Newsom stated that the president is advocating for an attack on more than 10 million U.S. residents in two of America's largest cities, calling the remark not normal and describing Trump as deranged and dangerous. In a second post on his official governor account, Newsom shared an article from the Los Angeles Times on the comments, calling them disgusting and disqualifying, per BBC News.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also condemned the president's words. According to CBS News and BBC News, Bass wrote on X that the role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria issued his own rebuke, writing that San Diego is not collateral damage, that the city is not expendable, and that it is never a small price to pay, while demanding Trump keep the city out of his reckless war talk.

Why It Matters

The controversy lands at a particularly volatile moment in American politics. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump's approval rating at a record low of 32%, with 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. For California leaders, the remark is not an isolated gaffe but part of a broader pattern of conflict with the Trump administration, including the deployment of National Guard and Marines to the state and previous disputes over immigration enforcement protests.

The two cities named by Trump are not abstract targets. Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States and is home to the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command Headquarters, aerospace contractors including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman, and federally funded research centers such as the RAND Corporation. San Diego, the nation's eighth-largest city, located just 17 miles from the Mexican border, hosts Naval Base San Diego, the homeport of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, the main training ground for Navy SEALs on the West Coast, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, where 70,000 civilians and active-duty service members live and work. Any suggestion that these cities could be sacrificed carries enormous strategic and symbolic weight.

Political Context

The exchange is the latest chapter in a long-running feud between Trump and Newsom. According to BBC News, Trump previously described Newsom as incompetent, saying he had failed to adequately respond after some Los Angeles anti-immigration enforcement protests turned violent. Newsom accused Trump of a brazen abuse of power after military personnel were deployed to secure federal buildings during those protests. Earlier this year, Trump mocked Newsom's dyslexia, saying presidents should not have learning disabilities, which led to criticism from dyslexia charities. The two men met when Trump visited California in January after the state was hit by wildfires, but the relationship has remained tense.

The timing of the latest remark is significant. With the midterms approaching and Trump's approval rating at a historic low, the controversy could energize Democratic voters in California and beyond, while also raising questions about the president's judgment on national security matters. The fact that the comment drew cheers from rally attendees has only intensified the criticism, with California officials arguing that it reflects a dangerous normalization of rhetoric that treats American cities as acceptable casualties.

What Officials and Groups Are Saying

California officials have been nearly unanimous in their condemnation. Newsom's press office described the remark as an advocacy for an attack on American soil, while his official account amplified the Los Angeles Times coverage calling the comments disgusting and disqualifying. Bass framed the issue as a fundamental betrayal of presidential duty, and Gloria rejected any suggestion that San Diego could be treated as expendable. The reactions from these leaders, reported by The Hill, CBS News, BBC News, and The Guardian, reflect a broader sense of alarm across the state.

Trump has not responded to the criticism, and it remains unclear whether he will clarify his remarks. The White House has not issued a statement. The lack of clarification has left room for interpretation, but California leaders are treating the comment as a serious threat rather than a rhetorical flourish. The president also said during the rally that he would pay for taxpayer-funded Trump ads after repeated criticism, according to The Guardian, though that announcement has been overshadowed by the Iran remark.

Timeline

  • Monday night: Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, defending military operations against Iran and suggesting Iran could take out Los Angeles and San Diego as a small price to pay for keeping the world safe.
  • Monday night: Sections of the rally audience cheer after the comment.
  • Monday night: Newsom responds from his press office account, calling Trump deranged and dangerous and accusing him of advocating for an attack on more than 10 million U.S. residents.
  • Monday night: Bass and Gloria issue statements on X condemning the remarks.
  • Tuesday morning: The Guardian reports the comments amid Trump's record-low approval rating of 32% in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
  • Tuesday: BBC News reports that Trump has yet to respond to the criticism from California leaders.
  • Tuesday: Newsom shares a Los Angeles Times article on the comments, calling them disgusting and disqualifying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly did Trump say?

During a rally in Nebraska, Trump said that keeping the world safe and the country safe was a small price to pay, then added that Iran could take out a city and named Los Angeles and San Diego. The comment was made while he discussed higher gas prices resulting from the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

How did California leaders respond?

Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump deranged and dangerous and accused him of encouraging attacks on American cities. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the president's role is to protect the country, not threaten it. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said his city is not collateral damage and demanded Trump keep it out of his reckless war talk.

Why are these two cities significant?

Los Angeles is the second-most populous U.S. city and hosts major aerospace and defense facilities, including the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command Headquarters. San Diego is the eighth-largest city and home to Naval Base San Diego, Camp Pendleton, and Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, making it a critical military hub.

What is Trump's current approval rating?

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump's approval rating at a record low of 32%, with declining support among independent voters and Latinos who backed him in 2024.

Has Trump responded to the criticism?

As of Tuesday, Trump has not responded to the comments made by California's leaders, and the White House has not issued a clarification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly did Trump say?

During a rally in Nebraska, Trump said that keeping the world safe and the country safe was a small price to pay, then added that Iran could take out a city and named Los Angeles and San Diego. The comment was made while he discussed higher gas prices resulting from the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.

How did California leaders respond?

Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump deranged and dangerous and accused him of encouraging attacks on American cities. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the president's role is to protect the country, not threaten it. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said his city is not collateral damage and demanded Trump keep it out of his reckless war talk.

Why are these two cities significant?

Los Angeles is the second-most populous U.S. city and hosts major aerospace and defense facilities, including the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command Headquarters. San Diego is the eighth-largest city and home to Naval Base San Diego, Camp Pendleton, and Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, making it a critical military hub.

What is Trump's current approval rating?

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump's approval rating at a record low of 32%, with declining support among independent voters and Latinos who backed him in 2024.

Has Trump responded to the criticism?

As of Tuesday, Trump has not responded to the comments made by California's leaders, and the White House has not issued a clarification.

What Happens Next

The controversy is unlikely to fade quickly. With the midterm elections just weeks away and Trump's approval rating at a record low, the remark has handed California Democrats a powerful rallying cry and intensified scrutiny of the president's national security rhetoric. Newsom, who is weighing a 2028 presidential run, has already positioned himself as a leading voice of opposition, and the episode will likely feature prominently in campaign messaging across the state and beyond. Whether Trump clarifies his comments or doubles down remains an open question, but California leaders have made clear they will not let the remark pass without a fight. Readers should continue following this story as it develops, particularly for any response from the White House and the impact on midterm races in California and other key states.