Gavin Newsom condemns president’s rally remarks suggesting Iranian strikes on Los Angeles and San Diego as a ‘small price to pay’.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has sharply condemned President Donald Trump after the US leader appeared to suggest that Iranian forces could “take out” major California cities during a political rally, describing the comments as “deranged and dangerous.”
Speaking at a campaign event in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday, Trump defended the economic costs associated with ongoing US military operations against Iran. Referring to higher fuel prices and other expenses, he told supporters: “It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. 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.”
Newsom Rebukes Trump Over Iran Remarks:
The remarks quickly drew widespread criticism, particularly from Democratic officials in California. Newsom responded on the social media platform X, linking the comments to previous federal deployments of the National Guard and Marines to the state. “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,” he wrote. “He is deranged and dangerous.”
In further statements, Newsom directed California’s State Threat Assessment Center to monitor for any potential threats arising from the remarks, describing them as “dangerous-if not treasonous” and capable of placing a target on two of the state’s largest cities and a major US naval hub. He later characterised Trump as “mentally ill” and called for the invocation of the 25th Amendment, which provides a process for removing a president deemed unable to discharge the duties of the office.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria also issued strong rebukes. Bass said the president’s statements were “dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety,” stressing that a president’s role is to protect the country rather than encourage attacks on American lives. Gloria similarly rejected any notion that his city could be treated as expendable.
The White House pushed back against the criticism. Communications Director Steven Cheung argued that the comments had been misconstrued, insisting Trump was highlighting the threat a nuclear-armed Iran would pose to US cities if left unchecked. “America is safer because of the President,” Cheung said. “Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.”
Iran Tensions Fuel US Political Clash:
The remake comes amid heightened US-Iran tensions that began earlier in 2026 and have contributed to rising energy prices. It also underscores the deep political polarisation in the United States, with Newsom positioning himself as one of Trump’s most vocal domestic critics and a potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
Critics of the president view the Nebraska remarks as another example of inflammatory rhetoric that risks undermining national unity and international stability. Supporters and administration officials maintain that the comments were intended to underscore the necessity of confronting Iran and that media and opposition reactions have exaggerated their meaning.
As midterm elections approach, the exchange between Trump and Newsom highlights the intense partisan battles over foreign policy, domestic security and the boundaries of presidential rhetoric in an increasingly divided America.