Trump’s Remarks on Iran Draw Criticism from California Leaders
President Donald Trump has again brought up the idea of Iranian missiles striking cities like Los Angeles or San Diego. This follows a statement from the White House claiming his earlier comments were misunderstood.
During a rally in San Antonio, Texas, Trump said, “I said it the other day, let them hit a missile into San Diego or Los Angeles on the way. You want to see a horror show? Let them hit San Diego. Let them hit Los Angeles. You want to see some bad things happen?” These remarks echo comments he made at a rally in Nebraska earlier in the week while discussing the conflict with Iran.
On Monday, Trump remarked, “They can take out a city. Let ’em take out Los Angeles. Let ’em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.”
These statements prompted condemnation from California leaders. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria voiced their concerns, stating that their cities should not be considered “expendable.”
Bass criticized Trump’s comments on X, writing, “The President of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles. His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety.” She emphasized the president’s duty to protect the country, not threaten it.
Gloria responded, stating that San Diego is not “collateral damage” and “never a ‘small price to pay.’”
California Governor Gavin Newsom also criticized Trump on X. He described Trump’s words as “dangerous—if not treasonous—placing a target on two major cities and a significant naval hub.”
Newsom urged the State Threat Assessment Center (STAC) to monitor the situation, concerned that foreign actors could misinterpret Trump’s remarks. The STAC is California’s primary state-level fusion center, providing intelligence sharing and situational awareness.
No changes to California’s formal threat level have been publicly reported following Newsom’s October 6 request.
The White House dismissed criticism on Tuesday. Communications Director Steven Cheung explained Trump meant U.S. cities would have been at risk if Iran’s nuclear capabilities hadn’t been curtailed, dismissing the media’s reaction as a “freakout.”
At the rally, Trump asserted that such attacks would not be allowed to happen. “We’re not going to let that happen. We protect our cities. We protect our country,” he stated.
Newsom criticized Trump again on X, accusing him of trying to scare voters into supporting his agenda by threatening millions of U.S. residents. An earlier post from Newsom’s press office clarified, “The President is advocating for an attack on 10+ million U.S. residents. This is not normal.”
The discussion continues regarding Iran’s threat to the U.S. mainland. Sam Lair, a fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told Newsweek that Iran does not possess missiles capable of hitting Los Angeles or San Diego. Lair noted Iran’s longest-range missiles can’t reach the continental U.S.
Iran’s missiles have a maximum range of 1,200 miles, far below the 5,600 miles required to reach U.S. soil. The distance from Iran to Los Angeles and San Diego exceeds 7,500 miles.
Trump’s speech faced interruptions from protesters, as reported by ABC News. The rally was part of his campaign for Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton.