Full Breakdown
Trump’s “Let Them Take Out” Remarks Spark California Outcry
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 5, 2026, President Donald Trump addressed a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska. While discussing the U.S.–Iran war and rising fuel costs, he said, “They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon.” The comment was met with applause from the crowd and quickly provoked condemnation from California officials and several members of Congress.
Background & Context
The United States and Israel have been conducting airstrikes against Iran for several months, a conflict that Trump has framed as essential to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Similar language appeared in an earlier Oval Office remark in which Trump asserted that Iran would never obtain a nuclear weapon.
Timeline
Official Statements & Responses
The White House, through communications director Steven Cheung, asserted that Trump was describing a hypothetical threat: if Iran were allowed to develop a nuclear capability, U.S. cities could have been targeted.
President Trump reiterated his policy goal, stating, “Just as I promised, I am ensuring that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” and framed higher oil prices as a “small price to pay” for national security.
Criticism & Opposition
Governor Newsom condemned the remarks as an invitation for foreign adversaries, saying the president was “deranged and dangerous.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that the comments “could potentially compromise our safety,” while San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria declared that the city “is not expendable.”
Data & Statistics
- Los Angeles and San Diego together contain more than 5 million residents.
- San Diego hosts the principal homeport of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, underscoring its strategic significance.
- The Iran war has been linked by the president to higher gasoline prices, which he described as “a little bit high.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Democratic leaders interpret the president’s language as an explicit invitation for Iran to attack U.S. cities, while the White House maintains the remarks were a warning about a threat that would have existed without U.S. intervention. No independent verification has confirmed Trump’s intent, leaving the precise meaning unresolved.
What’s Next
The controversy unfolds ahead of the November midterm elections, where all 435 House seats and a third of the Senate are contested. Governor Newsom’s call for the 25th Amendment has not triggered any formal constitutional process, as Section 4 requires action by the vice president and a majority of the cabinet. California’s statewide races, including the open congressional seat in the San Diego area, are expected to be influenced by the fallout from the president’s remarks.