California's Democratic congressional delegation on Tuesday called on President Trump to apologize for comments made at a campaign rally in Nebraska, where he suggested Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego. The delegation, chaired by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), issued a joint statement condemning the remarks as an abdication of the president's duty to protect American citizens.
"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 read. It was signed by all 40 House members from California, along with Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, both Democrats.
The controversy stems from Trump's comments in Grand Island, Nebraska, where he said, "Let 'em take out Los Angeles, let 'em take out San Diego," referring to potential Iranian attacks. He added that such strikes would be "a very small price to pay" to end the conflict quickly, defending the economic consequences of his administration's military actions against Iran.
Governor Gavin Newsom (D) reacted sharply, calling the president's rhetoric "deranged and dangerous" and later suggesting it was "dangerous—if not treasonous." Newsom, who has been floated as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has previously described Trump as "mentally ill" and called for invoking the 25th Amendment. He also directed the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor for threats to the two cities, noting San Diego's role as a major U.S. Navy hub.
The White House dismissed the backlash, with communications director Steven Cheung attributing it to a "media freakout." The Rapid Response account on X called the Los Angeles Times "buffoons" for its coverage, and 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 the remarks "horrified" her, noting Trump "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, a candidate to replace Bass, posted on social media: "This is reckless, dangerous, and unhinged. Four million Angelenos are not bargaining chips." Even a Republican congressional candidate in the region, Jim Desmond, a former San Diego County supervisor and mayor of San Marcos, said he "vehemently" disagreed with Trump's comments, stressing that the president must "not write off American cities as an acceptable price of war."
The episode adds to growing concerns about Trump's rhetoric and its political fallout, as Democrats use his words to paint him as reckless on national security. It also comes amid sharp criticism from local leaders in California, a state that has been a frequent target of Trump's ire.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the controversy could resonate in competitive races, with Democrats framing the president's comments as disqualifying. For now, the demand for an apology remains unmet, and the political battle over Trump's Iran policy—and his words—shows no sign of abating.
