California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) launched a sharp attack on President Trump on Monday, calling him “deranged and dangerous” after Trump suggested that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego if the country developed a nuclear weapon. The remarks, made during a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, have ignited a political firestorm, with California officials lining up to condemn the president’s language.
Trump made the comments while defending his administration’s military actions against Iran, despite the economic strain the conflict has placed on American consumers. “It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, for keeping our country safe,” he said, before adding that Tehran could “take out a city.” He then singled out two of California’s largest cities: “Let ‘em take out Los Angeles, let ‘em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon.”
Newsom, who is reportedly considering a presidential run in 2028, did not mince words in his response. In a post on social media, he wrote: “After sending the National Guard to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego. He is deranged and dangerous.” The governor’s reference to the National Guard deployment—which Trump ordered earlier this year as part of a broader immigration crackdown—has been a point of contention between the two leaders.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on the governor’s statements. However, the controversy is likely to intensify as Trump continues to face record-low approval ratings, complicating the GOP’s prospects in the upcoming midterm elections.
Other California officials quickly joined Newsom in denouncing Trump’s remarks. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (D) wrote on social media that his city is “not collateral damage.” He added: “We are not expendable. And we are never a ‘small price to pay.’ Keep our city out of your reckless war talk.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) also issued a strong rebuke, saying that Trump’s “statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety.” She continued: “The role of the president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives. In the face of irresponsible threats, as Angelenos, we know how to stand together and protect our city.”
The president’s comments come amid escalating tensions with Iran, and his rhetoric has drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans. However, Trump has shown no signs of backing down, and his willingness to target political opponents has become a hallmark of his style.
Newsom’s sharp response is likely to fuel speculation about his own national ambitions. By positioning himself as a defender of California against a president he portrays as reckless, Newsom is appealing to Democratic primary voters who are increasingly energized by anti-Trump sentiment.
As the political fallout continues, the question remains whether Trump’s inflammatory language will have lasting consequences for his standing in California—a state he lost by double digits in both 2016 and 2020—or whether it will simply be another flashpoint in the ongoing battle between the president and the state’s Democratic leadership.
