Newsom rips Trump for saying Iran can ‘take out’ LA and San Diego

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) slammed President Trump as “ deranged and dangerous ” after he suggested Iran could “take out” two major U.S. cities located in the Golden State if the country developed a nuclear weapon.

Trump made the comment during remarks at a political rally in Grand Island, Neb., on Monday, in which he defended his administration’s military operations against Iran despite rising costs for U.S. consumers amid the conflict.

“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, for keeping our country safe,” the president said, before adding that Tehran could “take out a city.”

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“Let ‘em take out Los Angeles, let ‘em take out San Diego,” he continued. “This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon.”

Newsom, who is weighing a presidential run in 2028, accused Trump of encouraging attacks on these two California cities.

“After sending the National Guard to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego,” the governor wrote in a social media post . “He is deranged and dangerous.”

In a Tuesday statement, White House communications director Steven Cheung disputed this characterization of the president’s remarks.

“The media freakout over President Trump’s comments is not rooted in reality,” Cheung wrote on social media .

“He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped,” he continued. “America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.”

Other California officials joined the governor in denouncing the remarks.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (D) wrote in a social media post that his city was “not collateral damage.”

“We are not expendable,” Gloria added. “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 condemned the president’s comments.

“His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety,” Bass wrote on social platform X .

“The role of the president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives,” she continued. “In the face of irresponsible threats, as Angelenos, we know how to stand together and protect our city.”