California officials condemned President Donald Trump for remarks at a Nebraska rally suggesting that Iran could take out Los Angeles and San Diego, calling the comments deranged and dangerous.
President Donald Trump drew sharp condemnation from California leaders after suggesting Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego during a campaign rally in Nebraska, a remark he later attempted to clarify. The comments sparked immediate backlash from Gov. Gavin Newsom, mayors, and members of Congress, who accused Trump of endangering public safety and misrepresenting the threat posed by Iran.
Trump’s Remarks and Immediate Reactions
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria echoed the sentiment, stating, San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the remarks “dangerous,” warning they could potentially compromise our safety.
The comments also drew criticism from Republicans, including Jim Desmond, a Republican running in a competitive race for the House of Representatives near San Diego.
Jim Desmond, a Republican running in a competitive race for the House of Representatives near San Diego, distanced himself from Trump’s statement, calling it unhelpful.
I vehemently disagree with President Trump’s comments,
he said.
The White House’s Defense and Contradictions
The White House sought to distance itself from Trump’s remarks, asserting that the media freakout over the remarks was not rooted in reality
and that his comments were being misinterpreted. White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung wrote on social media, He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped. America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.
The White House’s “Rapid Response 47” account labeled the Los Angeles Times as “buffoons” and asserted that Trump was stating the US is “fighting to STOP Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon – which they would if they had the chance.”
Cheung’s statement clashed with the reactions of California officials, who argued Trump’s remarks either invited attacks or minimized the risks of nuclear conflict. Newsom pointed to Trump’s previous deployment of federal troops to California, saying, After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego.
Trump’s comments also reignited debates over his relationship with California. The state, a Democratic stronghold, has been a frequent target of his ire. Newsom said, Let’s be clear: The President is advocating for an attack on 10+ million U.S. residents in two of America’s largest cities. This is not normal. None of this is.
Broader Political and Military Implications
The controversy came amid ongoing tensions over the war with Iran, which Trump framed as necessary to ensure Iran could not develop a nuclear weapon. He argued, It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe.
However, critics, including Sen. Alex Padilla, accused Trump of recklessness. Padilla posted about the war and questioned Trump as commander in chief, noting at least 19 service members have made the ultimate sacrifice in Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran
and stating that Trump was inviting an attack on U.S.
The military significance of San Diego and Los Angeles added to the gravity of the remarks. San Diego is home to Naval Base San Diego, the Pacific Fleet’s headquarters, along with Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and adjacent Camp Pendleton, where 70,000 military personnel and civilians are employed. Los Angeles, located approximately 120 miles to the north, houses the US Space Force’s space system command headquarters and Los Angeles Air Force Base. The Associated Press noted at the time that Iran had set a self-imposed cap on its ballistic missile program, restricting the range to 1,240 miles, with Diego Garcia lying well beyond that limit.
The potential for conflict with Iran, however, raised concerns among local leaders. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria posted, Our homes, our families and our communities cannot be treated as collateral damage or a political punch line by this President.
Public and Policy Responses
California’s Democratic senators also condemned the president’s comments. Sen. Adam Schiff wrote on X, The President says the Iran war will end ‘very soon.’ How many times have we heard that promise? And if it means attacks on two major American cities in the process, he is not troubled by the cost.
Schiff also stated, I can’t believe we have to say this, but the annihilation of two major American cities — more than 5 million people — is not a ‘small price to pay’ for Trump’s illegal war.
For now, California’s leaders have doubled down on their criticism. Newsom’s directive to the State Threat Assessment Center highlights the perceived urgency of the situation. Newsom described Trump’s remarks in a second social media post as disgusting and disqualifying
.