LA Mayor Karen Bass calls Trump’s remarks about Los Angeles and San Diego dangerous

The president made the comments while defending the costs of the Iran conflict and campaigning ahead of the November midterm elections.

President Donald Trump’s remarks about Iran potentially “taking out” Los Angeles and San Diego have triggered a sharp backlash from California officials, adding another flashpoint to the political debate surrounding the US conflict with Iran.

Speaking Monday at a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, Trump was discussing the economic impact of the war when he described higher prices as a “small price to pay” for national and global security. He then said Iran could “take out a city” before naming Los Angeles and San Diego.

“They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. It’ll be over very soon,” Trump said of the war, though it was not clear if Trump was actually suggesting that Iran “take out” the cities.

The crowd applauded after the comments.

The Guardian reported that Trump said the conflict would end soon, while his remarks immediately prompted questions over whether he was speaking figuratively about the costs of war or referring to an actual Iranian threat. There has been no public evidence establishing that Trump was disclosing classified intelligence about plans or capabilities targeting either California city.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned the comments, calling them “deranged and dangerous.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described Trump’s remarks as dangerous and said the president should be focused on protecting Americans rather than encouraging attacks on US cities.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria also rejected the characterization of his city as an acceptable cost of the conflict, saying San Diego was “not collateral damage.”

The comments come as Trump campaigns ahead of the November midterm elections and seeks to defend his handling of an increasingly costly conflict. His Nebraska appearance was part of a broader effort to rally Republican voters, with economic concerns including fuel prices emerging as a major political issue.

Questions about the military feasibility of an Iranian strike on the US mainland have also surfaced. The Los Angeles Times reported that Iran’s ballistic missile program has historically operated within a range that would not reach California, although US officials have previously warned that developments in Iran’s space program could eventually contribute to longer-range missile capabilities.

That distinction matters because Trump’s comments do not establish that Iran currently has the ability to launch such an attack. Nor has the administration publicly indicated that Los Angeles or San Diego is facing a confirmed Iranian strike threat.

The White House had not publicly clarified Trump’s remarks at the time of the initial reports, leaving the comments to be interpreted against the backdrop of an active war, rising domestic costs and an increasingly contentious midterm campaign.