President Donald Trump’s suggestion at a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska Monday that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego drew quick criticism from San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Gov. Gavin Newsom and other California elected officials.

“San Diego is not collateral damage,” Gloria wrote on X. “We are not expendable. And we are never a “small price to pay. Keep our city out of your reckless war talk.”

San Diego is not collateral damage.

We are not expendable.

And we are never a “small price to pay.”

Keep our city out of your reckless war talk. https://t.co/06z2qsEIMr

— San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (@MayorToddGloria) October 6, 2026

Trump said he wanted to “see a tremendous victory” in the November election “cause it verifies all the things we did. And again, remember, with the war it’s just artificial, it’s a little bit high.”

“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” he continued. “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.”

On his X account, Gov. Gavin Newsom called Trump, “deranged and dangerous.”

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. https://t.co/N4JQfecAYo

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 6, 2026

Other California Democrats chimed in the criticism, including Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Sara Jacobs, Rep. Scott Peters and San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert.

“At least 19 servicemembers have made the ultimate sacrifice in Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran —including Noah Tietjens of Nebraska. Now Trump is in Nebraska inviting an attack on U.S. soil, putting millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of our servicemembers at risk while trying to get Americans to cheer for an attack on our own country. What kind of Commander in Chief does that?” Sen. Padilla wrote on X.

At least 19 servicemembers have made the ultimate sacrifice in Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran —including Noah Tietjens of Nebraska.

Now Trump is in Nebraska inviting an attack on U.S. soil, putting millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of our servicemembers at risk… https://t.co/bjX79gdn8x

— Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) October 6, 2026

“My constituents — including many active duty service members, veterans, and their families — are not acceptable collateral damage in Trump’s stupid war,” Congresswoman Jacobs said.

My constituents — including many active duty service members, veterans, and their families — are not acceptable collateral damage in Trump’s stupid war. https://t.co/wAMxUC7iam

— Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (@RepSaraJacobs) October 6, 2026

“San Diego is a proud military town, home to 115,000 courageous active duty servicemembers and their families. Military service is at the root of our community and culture,” Rep. Peters said.

“This month we await the return home of the sailors and marines still stranded on the USS Lincoln for months thanks to Donald Trump’s reckless war in Iran. America knows San Diego is not a ‘small price to pay’ for his inability to resolve it,” Peters added.

San Diego is a proud military town, home to 115,000 courageous active duty servicemembers and their families. Military service is at the root of our community and culture. This month we await the return home of the sailors and marines still stranded on the USS Lincoln for months… https://t.co/kqMcf7l6ao

— Rep. Scott Peters (@RepScottPeters) October 6, 2026

“Donald Trump says Los Angeles and San Diego being attacked would be ‘a small price to pay’ for his reckless Iran war. That is appalling and terrifying. Californians are already paying for this terrible war every time we fill up the tank,” Councilmember Wilpert began.

“Now, the President is talking about a foreign government attacking a United States city as if it was just the cost of doing business. This is an impeachable offense by the Commander in Chief, who swore an oath to protect our country. Our homes, our families and our communities cannot be treated as collateral damage or a political punch line by this President. It’s indefensible that Jim Desmond continues to support Trump’s war and continues to be backed and funded by a President who jokes about the 1.4 million people in San Diego being “taken out” by a foreign adversary. We’ve paid enough for this war. It’s time to end it,” she said.

Donald Trump says Los Angeles and San Diego being attacked would be ‘a small price to pay’ for his reckless Iran war. That is appalling and terrifying. Californians are already paying for this terrible war every time we fill up the tank. Now, the President is talking about a…

— Marni von Wilpert for Congress (@marnivonwilpert) October 6, 2026

Republican Jim Desmond also joined in the criticism of Trump’s comments, saying in part, “As a Navy veteran, I served to protect Americans, not write off American cities as an acceptable price of war. Our job is to keep Americans safe, stand up to our enemies, and make sure a threat like that never becomes reality. No American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage.”

I vehemently disagree with President Trump’s comments. America must stand up to Iran and defend our interests, but the first responsibility of our Commander in Chief is to protect the American people and our homeland.

As a Navy veteran, I served to protect Americans, not write…

— Jim Desmond for Congress (@JimDesmondSD) October 6, 2026