Outrage After President Trump Suggests Letting Iran “Take Out” Los Angeles Or San Diego To Cheering Crowd At Nebraska Rally

President Donald Trump ignited a fierce political firestorm during a Monday campaign rally, suggesting that allowing Iran to “take out” Los Angeles or San Diego would be a “small price to pay” for long-term national security.

Speaking at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in support of Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts, Trump addressed the rising fuel costs driven by the ongoing conflict with Iran. Attempting to minimize the economic fallout, the President pivoted to a controversial rhetorical scenario that drew immediate condemnation from lawmakers.

“And again, remember, with the war it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high,” Trump told the crowd, referring to energy prices. “It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. 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 and it’s going to be over with very soon.”, Trump said to the crowd, where cheers could be heard.

Trump added that the military conflict was “essentially almost over with” and would conclude “one way or the other” in the near future.

Swift Condemnation from California Officials

The remarks drew instant, sharp rebukes from California leaders, who blasted the commander-in-chief for casually invoking the destruction of major American cities.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 White House contender, took to social media to condemn the speech. “Let’s be clear, the president is advocating for an attack on 10 plus million US residents in two of America’s largest cities,” Newsom wrote. “This is not normal. None of this is.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also issued a formal statement denouncing the remarks, explicitly labeling the president’s language as “dangerous.”

Rhetoric Amid High Tensions

While political analysts noted that Trump’s comments may have been delivered as a characteristically exaggerated rhetorical device—frequently used in his speeches to target Democratic-led strongholds—the framing of American casualties as an acceptable loss sent shockwaves through Washington.

White House officials have not yet clarified whether the President’s comments were intended as a literal foreign policy stance or an off-the-cuff joke. However, coming amidst heightened military actions and volatile global markets, the statement has amplified an already tense midterm election cycle.