Trump says letting Iran ‘wipe out’ LA and San Diego is ‘a very small price’
President Donald Trump sparked backlash at a Nebraska campaign rally on October 5, 2026, by saying allowing Iran to “wipe out” Los Angeles and San Diego would be “a very small price” to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the remarks as dangerous. The White House defended Trump, stating he was warning about threats a nuclear-armed Iran would pose, not encouraging an attack.
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Trump Stirs Outrage by Saying Iran Should 'Wipe Out' Los Angeles and San Diego
US President Donald Trump sparked controversy during a campaign rally in Nebraska on October 5, 2026, when he stated that allowing Iran to 'wipe out' Los Angeles and San Diego would be 'a very small price' to pay for preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The remarks, captured on video and widely circulated, drew sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called Trump 'confused and dangerous,' and from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who said the nuclear annihilation of a US city is not a laughing matter. The White House, through Communications Director Steven Cheung, dismissed the backlash as 'media hysteria,' asserting that Trump was highlighting the threat Iran would pose if it acquired nuclear weapons, not encouraging an attack. The controversy comes amid an ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched in late February 2026, aimed at halting Tehran's nuclear program, which Western nations suspect is intended to develop atomic bombs—a charge Iran denies.
Read sourceWhite House defends Trump's remark that Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego
Former President Donald Trump's comment at a Nebraska campaign rally that Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego has drawn fierce backlash from California politicians. Governor Gavin Newsom called the remarks 'deranged and dangerous,' while Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described them as threats encouraging attacks on American lives. The White House defended Trump, stating he was warning that American cities would have been threatened by a nuclear Iran had he not launched a war earlier this year. White House Communications Director Stephen Cheung said the 'media freakout' was not rooted in reality, asserting that the U.S. is safer because Trump stopped Iran's nuclear program. Both cities host major military installations, including Navy ports and Air Force bases. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria demanded the city not be treated as collateral damage. Trump has not responded to the criticism. This is the latest in a series of public clashes between Trump and Newsom, who may run for president in 2028.
Read sourceCalifornia leaders hit back after Trump says Iran can 'take out' LA and San Diego
California leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have strongly criticized former President Donald Trump after he suggested that Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego at a 'small price.' Trump's comments, made during a campaign event, implied that he would allow Iran to attack these major California cities. The remarks have sparked widespread fury and condemnation from state officials, who accuse Trump of making dangerous and irresponsible statements that undermine national security and endanger American lives. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and California's Democratic leadership, as well as the broader political divide over foreign policy and domestic security.
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Trump suggests he would let Iran ‘take out’ Los Angeles or San Diego in war remarks
Former President Donald Trump suggested during a campaign event that he would allow Iran to 'take out' Los Angeles or San Diego if he were president, sparking immediate backlash. The comments were made in the context of discussing his approach to foreign policy and Iran. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the remarks, calling them dangerous and irresponsible. Multiple news outlets, including The Guardian, Yahoo, KTLA, Forbes, and ABC News, reported on the controversy. The statement has been widely criticized as inflammatory and a threat to national security, with critics accusing Trump of trivializing the potential for military conflict and endangering American cities. Trump's campaign has not issued a clarifying statement, and the remarks have become a focal point in the ongoing political debate over his foreign policy stance.
Read sourceTrump suggests letting Iran ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego at campaign rally
At a campaign rally, former President Donald Trump suggested that if he were president, he would let Iran 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego, according to multiple news reports. The remark, made in the context of criticizing the Biden administration's Iran policy, drew immediate backlash from California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who condemned the statement as dangerous and irresponsible. The New York Times reported 'fury in California' over the comments, while Forbes noted the backlash. The Los Angeles Times and The Guardian also covered the story, highlighting the inflammatory nature of the suggestion. The remarks were made during a campaign event, and the reports attribute the quote directly to Trump, with no additional context or clarification provided by his campaign at the time of reporting.