President Trump told a cheering Nebraska crowd that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego, calling the possible destruction of two major American cities “a very small price to pay.”
Quick Take
- Trump made the remarks at a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, on October 5, 2026.
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, and Governor Gavin Newsom all condemned the comments publicly.
- Newsom called Trump “deranged and dangerous,” while Gloria insisted his city is “not collateral damage.”
- Some rally attendees and outlets described the line as possibly a joke tied to warnings about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
What Trump Told The Nebraska Crowd
Speaking at a midterm campaign rally, Trump told supporters, “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.” The crowd applauded. Reporters covering the event said the remark came while Trump was defending the cost of confronting Iran and arguing the country was “saving the world” from a nuclear-armed regime.
Trump followed the line by insisting Iran “will not have a nuclear weapon,” framing the entire exchange around stopping Tehran’s weapons program rather than inviting an actual strike on American soil. That context matters, but it did not stop the quote from traveling fast, stripped down to its most alarming four words: let them take out.
California’s Leaders Answer Back
Mayor Bass wasted no time. “The president of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles,” she said. “His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety”. Her message was blunt: a sitting president naming her city as an acceptable casualty of war is not something local leaders can shrug off, regardless of tone or setting.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria pushed back just as hard, writing that “San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable. And we are never a ‘small price to pay.'” He called on Trump to “keep our city out of your reckless war talk”. Governor Newsom went further on social media, branding the president “deranged and dangerous” for suggesting enemies should “take out” two of the state’s largest cities.
Other Voices Pile On
Senator Adam Schiff and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra joined the chorus, arguing the comments treated millions of residents as disposable. Becerra noted that “thirteen million Californians call LA and San Diego counties home,” a reminder that the rhetorical stakes attached to a rally one-liner touch real families, not just political talking points.
Why This Landed So Hard
Presidential words about war and major cities do not float in a vacuum. Coverage of this presidency has repeatedly shown Trump reaching for national-security framing to justify everything from tariffs to building projects, and critics argue that habit makes any security-tinged comment read as deliberate rather than offhand. When a president jokes about a city’s destruction, even skeptics of outrage culture should admit the line deserves scrutiny, not a shrug.
Trump’s remarks on Iran and the possibility of attacks on U.S. cities have triggered a political firestorm
He referenced Los Angeles and San Diego while defending the costs of the Iran war. The White House says he was warning about the threat of a nuclear-capable Iran not… pic.twitter.com/v9ygSghJfg— tippinsights (@TippInsightsHQ) October 6, 2026
At the same time, reporting from the rally itself notes the comment came during a riff about Iran’s nuclear program, not a literal order or wish for an attack, and some supporters in the crowd treated it as dark humor rather than policy. That ambiguity is real. A full, unedited transcript would settle exactly how the line was delivered and received in the room, something currently missing from public reporting.
What Comes Next For Both Sides
Californians, especially in Los Angeles and San Diego, have every right to demand their president choose words more carefully when national security and their safety are the subject. Casual talk about cities being “taken out” is not the kind of language that builds public trust, no matter the intended audience or the laughs it drew. Clearer, more careful language from the Oval Office would spare everyone this fight entirely.
Sources:
cnn.com, usatoday.com, thepinknews.com, mynewsla.com, abc7.com, english.news.cn, abcnews.com
