Trump Stuns America After Telling Iran To Attack California Cities, Calls It “Small Price To Pay”

U.S. President Donald Trump has triggered nationwide outrage after suggesting at a campaign event on Monday that Iran should be allowed to “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego.

Speaking at a midterm campaign event in Grand Island, Nebraska, alongside GOP Senator Pete Ricketts, Trump was addressing the economic impact of the ongoing war with Iran when he made the shocking remark.
“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,” Trump told the crowd.
He then pivoted, seeming to imply that Iran would have been capable of taking out a U.S. city if it had been allowed to pursue its nuclear weapons program.

“They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” Trump said to applause from the crowd. “This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over very soon. It’s essentially almost over with.”

He added:
“And they might keep going a little long. You know, they always say they have a big threshold for pain. They need it, let me tell you, they need it. But it’s going to end very soon, and it’ll end one way or the other.”

The comments sparked immediate condemnation from California leaders.

Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on social media:
“Let’s be clear: The President is advocating for an attack on 10+ million U.S. residents in two of America’s largest cities. This is not normal. None of this is. And we will continue to remind folks of that every day.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the remarks dangerous:

” The President of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles. His statements against our city are dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety. The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives. In the face of irresponsible threats, as Angelenos, we know how to stand together and protect our city.”

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria also fired back:
“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.”
The rally is part of what Trump says is a 32-day blitz of rallies ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, taking him through ruby-red states like Oklahoma, Alabama and now Nebraska.

While on stage, Trump also signed an executive order allowing anyone to purchase red dye diesel tax-free, which he said would bring down sky-high diesel prices spiked by the war in Iran, saving typical truckers more than $100 per fill.

Across the country, voters remain frustrated with high fuel and grocery costs — a major issue for rural voters who have backed Trump.

Source: KABC / ABC7 Los Angeles | Tuesday, October 6, 2026 6:31AM | AP Photo: Charlie Riedel