President Donald Trump's suggestion that he would not oppose an Iranian attack on Los Angeles and San Diego has ignited a political firestorm in California, with local leaders accusing him of reckless rhetoric that endangers American lives.
Speaking at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday, Trump said that if Iran were to "take out a city," he would "let them" target the two Democratic strongholds, which together are home to more than 5 million people and over 20 million in the surrounding metropolitan areas. "Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego," he said. "This is a very small price to pay… It's gonna be over very soon." The crowd responded with laughter and cheers.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, a Democrat, was quick to push back. "Keep our city out of your reckless war talk," he said in a statement, emphasizing that San Diego, which hosts major military installations, "is not collateral damage. We are not expendable. And we are never a 'small price to pay.'"
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accused Trump of compromising the safety of the nation's second-largest city. "The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives," Bass said. "In the face of irresponsible threats, as Angelenos, we know how to stand together and protect our city."
California leaders condemn remarks
Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat often mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, called the comments "deranged and dangerous." He noted that Trump had already deployed National Guard and Marines to California as part of his mass deportation agenda, and now appeared to be inviting foreign enemies to strike the state. Newsom also criticized Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their silence, saying, "The SILENCE from JD Vance and Marco Rubio today is deafening."
Republican Jim Desmond, who is running for Congress in California's 48th District, which includes parts of San Diego, also distanced himself from Trump's remarks, underscoring the bipartisan unease they caused.
Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) responded with a pointed reference to the 25th Amendment, which allows the Cabinet to remove a president deemed unable to fulfill their duties. "Twenty-fifth amendment NOW," Padilla wrote on social media.
The president's comments come amid heightened tensions with Iran, as the Pentagon reportedly prepares to send thousands more troops and a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East. Talks between the US and Iran remain stalled, and gas prices have climbed to an average of $4.36 per gallon. An Associated Press poll in June found that nearly two-thirds of respondents disapproved of Trump's handling of the conflict, which he initiated with Israel in February without congressional approval.
Some observers, including journalist Daniel Dale, suggested that Trump may have been speaking in an "especially confusing style" and did not intend to imply that the cities were acceptable collateral damage. However, Dale acknowledged that "it's inappropriate regardless for the president to casually float the possibility of a city being wiped out."
The episode highlights a broader pattern in which Trump has repeatedly targeted Democratic-led cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, with rhetorical attacks and federal interventions. For Asian and Indo-Pacific audiences, the incident raises questions about the reliability of US leadership in global crises, particularly as Washington seeks allies in the region to counterbalance China's influence. The Trump administration's approach to North Korea has already tested alliances in Seoul and Beijing, and this latest outburst may further complicate trust in American commitments.
As the midterm elections approach, Trump's remarks are likely to become a flashpoint in California, where voters have consistently opposed his policies. The state's leaders are framing the comments as a direct threat to their constituents, and the political fallout may extend well beyond the immediate controversy.
