Trump Suggests Iran Could Target Los Angeles and San Diego, Sparking Broad Political Backlash

At a recent midterm rally in Nebraska, former President Donald Trump said he would allow Iran to “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego. The remark prompted swift condemnation from California leaders. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria urged Trump to keep the city out of his “reckless war talk.” Republican House candidate Jim Desmond, running in the 48th District, wrote that “no American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage.”

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The White House pushed back, with communications director Steven Cheung asserting that Trump was merely noting that U.S. Cheung added that Iran lacks a nuclear weapon, navy, air force, and money.

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Trump’s comment has become a focal point in California’s remaining competitive races. Democratic strategists also weighed in: Joel Payne called the governor’s criticism “good for Gavin” and condemned Trump’s willingness to wish harm on constituents, and Garry South emphasized that Los Angeles hosts the largest expatriate Iranian community outside Iran, making the targeting “doubly egregious.”

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• “No American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage,” — Republican Jim Desmond

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• “While the president’s statement may get laughs in Nebraska, in California it highlights why our state’s voters passionately dislike Trump,” — Matthew Klink, a California-based Republican strategist

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• “He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped. America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money,” — Steven Cheung, the White House’s communications director

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• “Los Angeles is home to the largest expatriate Iranian community outside of Iran, not that ignoramus Trump probably knows that, but it makes it doubly egregious to put an Iranian target on Southern California,” — Garry South, a Democratic strategist based in California and a former adviser to Newsom

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• “He goes to Nebraska last night to rally the base, but the storyline of it will be Republican candidates in difficult races needing to once again distance themselves from the president,” — Rob Stutzman, a veteran California Republican strategist

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• “One of the biggest problems Republicans are facing is that the president of their party is unhinged,” — Rob Stutzman, a veteran California Republican strategist

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