Full Breakdown
Trump Suggests Iran Target Los Angeles and San Diego
By Drooid · · How we work
Trump’s Call for Cities to Be Targeted
At a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, President Donald Trump said that the destruction of two U.S. cities would be “a small price to pay” for ending the ongoing war with Iran. He specifically named Los Angeles and San Diego, both Democratic-led cities in California, and suggested that Iran could “take out” them. The president framed the war as “artificial” and implied that its conclusion was imminent.
Context of the Seven-Month-Old Conflict
The remarks came amid a war that began roughly seven months earlier. The Pentagon’s Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) reported that the total number of U.S. service-member wounded rose to 861 in the latest update, while at least 19 service members have been killed and three are listed as missing. Earlier in April, Trump threatened to wipe out Iran’s “whole civilization,” but the suggestion that American cities could be collateral damage marks a new escalation in his rhetoric.
Official Reactions
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the comments, calling the president “deranged and dangerous” and labeling the suggestion that 10 + million residents could be targeted “disgusting and disqualifying.” Newsom’s press office added that the president’s remarks are “not normal” and pledged to remind the public of the danger daily. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria also responded on X, stating that San Diego “is not collateral damage” and rejecting the notion of a “small price to pay.” The White House did not immediately comment on the president’s statements.
Verbatim Quotes
- “And it’s going to be over very soon,” — Donald Trump, president
- “After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego. He is deranged and dangerous,” — California Gov. Gavin Newsom