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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
San Diego is not collateral damage. <\/p>\n
We are not expendable. <\/p>\n
And we are never a “small price to pay.” <\/p>\n
Keep our city out of your reckless war talk. https:\/\/t.co\/06z2qsEIMr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (@MayorToddGloria) October 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 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.”<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n On his X account, Gov. Gavin Newsom called Trump, “deranged and dangerous.”<\/p>\n After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should \u201ctake out\u201d Los Angeles and San Diego.<\/p>\n He is deranged and dangerous. https:\/\/t.co\/N4JQfecAYo<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “At least 19 servicemembers have made the ultimate sacrifice in Trump\u2019s unauthorized war with Iran \u2014including 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.<\/p>\n At least 19 servicemembers have made the ultimate sacrifice in Trump\u2019s unauthorized war with Iran \u2014including Noah Tietjens of Nebraska.<\/p>\n 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\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/bjX79gdn8x<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) October 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n “My constituents \u2014 including many active duty service members, veterans, and their families \u2014 are not acceptable collateral damage in Trump\u2019s stupid war,” Congresswoman Jacobs said.<\/p>\n My constituents \u2014 including many active duty service members, veterans, and their families \u2014 are not acceptable collateral damage in Trump\u2019s stupid war. https:\/\/t.co\/wAMxUC7iam<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (@RepSaraJacobs) October 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “This month we await the return home of the sailors and marines still stranded on the USS Lincoln for months thanks to Donald Trump\u2019s reckless war in Iran. America knows San Diego is not a ‘small price to pay’ for his inability to resolve it,” Peters added.<\/p>\n 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\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/kqMcf7l6ao<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rep. Scott Peters (@RepScottPeters) October 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n “Donald Trump says Los Angeles and San Diego being attacked would be \u2018a small price to pay\u2019 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.<\/p>\n “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\u2019s indefensible that Jim Desmond continues to support Trump\u2019s war and continues to be backed and funded by a President who jokes about the 1.4 million people in San Diego being \u201ctaken out\u201d by a foreign adversary. We\u2019ve paid enough for this war. It\u2019s time to end it,” she said. <\/p>\n Donald Trump says Los Angeles and San Diego being attacked would be \u2018a small price to pay\u2019 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\u2026<\/p>\n