Politicians slam Trump’s suggestion that Iran ‘take’ San Diego, Los Angeles | Donald Trump News
Members of the Republican Party have joined Democrats in criticizing remarks made by President Donald Trump regarding the California cities of Los Angeles and San Diego.
The backlash surfaced on Tuesday, following Trump’s comments at a midterm rally in Nebraska the previous day. During the rally, Trump suggested that Americans might need to make sacrifices in the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran. He implied that such sacrifices could include the destruction of American cities in the event of an Iranian attack.
“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” Trump said, referencing the potential economic repercussions of the war, including rising fuel and fertilizer prices. He specifically noted, “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.”
Despite ongoing polling that indicates widespread unpopularity of the conflict, Trump has downplayed its impact. He has consistently assured the public that the war will conclude soon, although no lasting ceasefire has been established.
The response to his comments was immediate. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a vocal critic of Trump, condemned the remarks as “deranged.” In a video posted on social media, Newsom described Trump’s comments as “not only madness” but also “dangerous,” urging Congress to take action to curb the president’s behavior.
Newsom, who may run for president in 2028, has previously clashed with Trump, particularly over Trump’s decision to deploy federal troops to California for a crackdown on undocumented immigration in the Los Angeles area. A federal judge ruled last December that the deployment was illegal and ordered its end. In reference to Trump’s recent comments, Newsom said, “The president of the United States – the same one who sent in the National Guard into Los Angeles, sent 700 active duty Marines to the second largest city in the United States of America – just invited Iran to take out Los Angeles and San Diego.” He added that Trump’s remarks should motivate those who might have deemed the upcoming election unimportant to participate in the midterms.
Some Republicans have also distanced themselves from Trump’s statements. Jim Desmond, a Republican candidate in a closely contested race for the House of Representatives near San Diego, expressed strong disagreement with the president. “I vehemently disagree with President Trump’s comments. America must stand up to Iran and defend our interests, but the first responsibility of our Commander in Chief is to protect the American people and our homeland,” Desmond wrote on social media. “No American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage.”
US Representative Kevin Kiley, an independent who aligns with Republicans and is seeking re-election in Northern California, deemed Trump’s comments “unhelpful.”
In contrast, the White House has downplayed the criticism, describing it as part of a “media freakout” lacking a basis in reality. “He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped,” White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung wrote on social media. “America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear weapons, no navy, no air force, and no money.”
California, as the most populous state in the United States, holds the highest number of seats in the House of Representatives, totaling 52.
All 435 House seats will be contested in the upcoming midterms, as well as a third of the Senate, alongside key state and local races. The outcomes of these elections are expected to significantly impact the final two years of Trump’s presidency, particularly regarding Republican control of Congress.
