California's Democratic congressional delegation on Tuesday demanded President Trump apologize for comments made at a campaign rally in Nebraska, where he suggested Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego. The remarks, which drew swift backlash from state and local leaders, were condemned as reckless and dangerous.
In a joint statement, the delegation, chaired by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), said: "As members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, we call on President Trump to apologize to the over 16 million Americans who live in the Los Angeles and San Diego metropolitan areas and all Americans who expect more out of our President." The statement was signed by all 40 House members from the state, along with Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla.
The controversy stems from Trump's comments in Grand Island, Nebraska, where he defended his military actions against Iran and appeared to invite an attack on American soil. "Let 'em take out Los Angeles, let 'em take out San Diego," Trump said, adding that such an outcome would be "a very small price to pay" to end the conflict quickly.
The delegation's statement accused Trump of undermining his constitutional duty to protect the nation. "Upon taking office, the president swears to uphold the Constitution and to protect us from our enemies," they wrote. "Yesterday, President Trump, while defending his unconstitutional war against Iran, appeared, incredibly to invite Iran to destroy two American cities."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) went further, calling the rhetoric "deranged and dangerous" and later suggesting it was "dangerous – if not treasonous." Newsom, who has been a frequent critic of Trump and is weighing a potential 2028 presidential bid, previously called the president "mentally ill" and has urged invoking the 25th Amendment. He also directed the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor for potential threats to both cities, noting that San Diego hosts one of the nation's largest Navy hubs.
The White House pushed back, with communications director Steven Cheung dismissing the criticism as a "media freakout." The White House Rapid Response account on social platform X called the Los Angeles Times "buffoons" over its coverage, while spokesperson Davis Ingle labeled Newsom "the worst governor in America, and he may also be the dumbest."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) told CNN's Anderson Cooper that Trump's remarks "horrified" her, especially given that he "basically said it's OK, that it's a small price to pay to attack 3.8 million people in the nation's largest city." San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (D) urged the president to "keep our city out of your reckless war talk."
Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, who is running to replace Bass, wrote on social media: "This is reckless, dangerous, and unhinged. Four million Angelenos are not bargaining chips."
Even a California Republican running for Congress, Jim Desmond, disagreed with Trump's remarks. Desmond, a former mayor of San Marcos and vice chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, said he "vehemently" opposes the president's suggestion, emphasizing that Trump must "not write off American cities as an acceptable price of war."
The episode underscores the deep partisan divide over Trump's approach to Iran and his rhetoric on the campaign trail. As Bass's criticism highlights, the remarks have become a flashpoint in the broader debate over national security and presidential conduct. Meanwhile, Trump's media presence and controversial statements continue to shape the political landscape, with some GOP senators warning that such tactics could hurt the party's electoral prospects.
