President Donald Trump suggested at a Nebraska campaign rally that Iran could take out Los Angeles and San Diego, calling the destruction a small price to pay during wartime. California officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and local mayors, swiftly condemned the remarks as dangerous and disqualifying.
The remarks came during a campaign event in Grand Island, Nebraska, where the president defended his administration’s ongoing conflict with Iran. Addressing supporters ahead of the November midterm elections, Trump argued that economic strain and high fuel prices were temporary inconveniences.
“Remember, with the war, it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They can take out a city. Let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.”
President Donald Trump
The crowd in Nebraska cheered the statements, but the reaction across California was immediate and severe. The comments landed against a backdrop of domestic tension between Washington and the blue state, which has faced federal troop deployments and frequent political clashes throughout Trump’s terms in office. President Trump arrived at Central Nebraska Regional Airport on October 5, 2026, to campaign for local Republican candidates, including incumbent U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts and Governor Jim Pillen, as part of a 32-day blitz of rallies leading up to the November 3 midterm elections. The Nebraska visit also saw the president campaigning alongside GOP Senator Pete Ricketts, who faces an independent candidate backed by national Democrats in an unexpectedly close race that has rattled Republicans.
Governor Newsom and Mayors Bass and Gloria Condemn the Remarks
California leaders wasted no time denouncing the president on social media. Governor Gavin Newsom called the statements deranged and dangerous, writing on his personal account that the commander-in-chief was advocating for an attack on millions of American residents. Newsom wrote on his X account that after sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump was now saying foreign enemies should take out Los Angeles and San Diego, calling him deranged and dangerous. On his official government account, Newsom termed the remarks disgusting and disqualifying, while an account for Newsom’s press office emphasized that the president was advocating for an attack on ten million plus U.S. residents across two of America’s largest cities.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a formal statement calling the president’s words dangerous and warning they could compromise public safety. In San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria pushed back directly against the notion that his constituents were expendable.
“San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable. And we are never a ‘small price to pay.’ Keep our city out of your reckless war talk.”
Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego
Other federal and local representatives joined the chorus. Senator Alex Padilla questioned what kind of commander-in-chief would invite an attack on domestic soil while servicemembers remain deployed overseas, noting on X that at least 19 service members have made the ultimate sacrifice in the unauthorized war, including Noah Tietjens of Nebraska. In San Diego, City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert labeled the comments an impeachable offense, while Trump-backed local supervisor Jim Desmond—a Navy veteran running for Congress—stated that he vehemently disagreed with the president, emphasizing that no American city is expendable. Additional figures weighed in from the Golden State, including Representative Sara Jacobs and Representative Scott Peters, who noted that the community awaits the return of sailors and marines stranded on the USS Lincoln for months.
The Strategic Reality and Economic Cost of the Conflict
Military analysts and defense officials have long noted that Iran lacks the capability to launch a direct missile attack on the United States mainland, as Tehran does not possess intercontinental ballistic missiles. The comments arrived as voters grapple with the financial toll of the conflict, with the national average fuel price standing at $4.37 a gallon. The conflict itself stems from a joint war of aggression launched on February 28, 2026, by Israel under Benjamin Netanyahu and the United States under Donald Trump.
The Pentagon’s Defense Casualty Analysis System reports that at least 19 U.S. service members have been killed and 861 wounded since the conflict began. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense pegs the latest estimated cost of the war at $43 billion.
The Golden State Political Landscape Ahead of November
The controversy unfolds against a high-stakes electoral backdrop. Nationally, Republicans face a difficult fight to hold Senate seats as voters express frustration over inflation and fuel costs. In California, the gubernatorial contest features Democratic nominee Xavier Becerra facing Republican candidate Steve Hilton, who is backed by Trump. Becerra, a former California attorney general, pointed out that Californians call Los Angeles and San Diego counties home and that their lives are not a small price to pay or a punchline. His opponent, Steve Hilton, is a former Fox News commentator hoping to become the first Republican elected to statewide office in California since 2006.
As candidates campaign ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, local officials continue to demand that Washington focus on domestic protection rather than wartime rhetoric. The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the backlash from California leadership.
