Debate over Trump's comments about Iran nuking California cities
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Debate is swirling online after Donald Trump suggested Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego with nuclear bombs during a speech Monday evening at a campaign rally in Nebraska.
The U.S. president was speaking to a crowd in Grand Island about getting out the vote for Republicans for the mid-term elections next month.
He assured attendees that higher gas and diesel prices, have been hurting Americans since he launched attacks against Iran earlier this year, will be lower after he ends the ongoing war.
“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,” Trump said .
Could bear brunt of attack
He then pivoted his message to the audience by naming two major California cities that could bear the brunt of an Iranian attack.
“They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon.”
Trump: "With the war, it's just artificial. It's a little bit high. It's a small price to pay ... let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay." pic.twitter.com/iIelj5sPUt
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 5, 2026
California Governor Gavin Newsom called out Trump’s comments in a statement shared to social media following his speech.
“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,” Newsom wrote on his X account .
“He is deranged and dangerous.”
Comments ‘not normal’
Newsom’s press office account also chimed in, saying what Trump said was “not normal.”
“Let’s be clear: The President is advocating for an attack on 10+ million U.S. residents in two of America’s largest cities.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Trump’s statements “ irresponsible threats ” while the mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria, said his city is not “collateral damage” and not “expendable.”
However, the Trump administration pushed back on the criticisms.
Steven Cheung, White House Director of Communications and assistant to the president, suggested on X that the freak out over Trump’s comments “ is not rooted in reality. ”
“He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped,” Cheung wrote. “America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.”
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The administration’s rapid response account on X called the Los Angeles Times “ buffoons ” for its report on Trump’s comments.
“He was saying the U.S. 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,” they wrote.
Trump has yet to comment on the reaction to his speech.
According to AAA , the national average for gasoline is $4.3685. Gas prices were in the $2.80 to $2.90 price range per gallon in January and February before the war was launched, says investment website Macrotrends .