Trump says “let ’em take out LA, San Diego” in Iran war defense, sparking backlash
In short
US President Donald Trump said at a Nebraska rally that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego and called it “a little price” to pay for the war effort. California Democrats, including Governor Gavin Newsom, condemned the remarks, with Newsom calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked. The White House said Trump was only describing the Iranian threat and blamed the media for inflating the controversy.
Read the full story 2 min read
US President Donald Trump said at a rally in Nebraska that “they” could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego and that this would be “a little price” to pay, in remarks defending the military operation against Iran, according to Korean outlets. Chosun Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo, Yonhap and Newsis all quote him as saying, “Let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego.” He added that the cost was small compared with keeping the world and the country safe. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The remarks came as Trump addressed war-related price increases. He said prices were “a little higher because of the war” and described that as a price worth paying, citing fuel and fertilizer costs, according to Yonhap. He did not name whom he meant by “they”; outlets said the reference was read as Iran because the comment was made while he was justifying the war. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
California politicians reacted immediately. Governor Gavin Newsom, described by Yonhap as a potential presidential candidate, said Trump is mentally ill and that it is time to invoke the 25th Amendment, which sets out how a president's powers can be transferred; he repeated the call in a YouTube video, calling the remark “very dangerous and deranged.” Yonhap noted that the amendment has never been applied against a president's will. Senator Alex Padilla wrote “25th Amendment NOW” on X. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the president had suggested a foreign government attack her city and that his words were dangerous and a potential threat to safety; San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said, “We are never a ‘small price to pay,’” and asked that the city be left out of “your reckless war rhetoric.” [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The White House pushed back. According to Yonhap, it said on X that Trump had only spoken about the Iranian threat and that “hallucinating media” had inflated a controversy with no basis in reality, adding that he had made clear US cities would be threatened if he had not stopped Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Newsis, citing AP, reported that White House communications director Steven Cheung said on social media that the remarks had been misunderstood and distorted by an overreaction. Newsis also reported a White House spokesperson calling Newsom the worst and possibly the dumbest governor in America. [ 5 , 6 ]
Criticism also came from the Republican side. Jim Desmond, a Republican candidate for a California congressional district, said he strongly opposed the remarks and that no American city can be sacrificed, according to both Yonhap and Newsis. Yonhap said the episode could become another liability for Republicans in midterm elections less than a month away, and that concern was spreading within the party. [ 5 , 6 ]
Korean outlets published at different points across Oct 6 and Oct 7, and they disagree on the date of the rally itself: Chosun Ilbo's first report and Dong-A Ilbo date it to Oct 5 local time, while Chosun Ilbo's later report dates it to Oct 6. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Remarks by a sitting US president about attacks on two of California's largest cities drew criticism from Democrats and at least one Republican candidate, and the documents say the episode could weigh on US midterm elections less than a month away. Calls by Newsom and other Democrats to invoke the 25th Amendment have never been carried out against a president's will, according to Yonhap, so the dispute is likely to stay political rather than become a procedure.
Key facts
- Trump said at a Nebraska rally, “Let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego,” while defending the military operation against Iran. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- He described the cost as “a little price” to pay for keeping the world and the country safe, and linked his remarks to war-driven rises in fuel and fertilizer prices. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Trump did not specify who “they” were; outlets interpreted the reference as Iran because the remark came during his defense of the war. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- California Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump mentally ill and deranged and said the 25th Amendment should be invoked. [ 5 , 6 ]
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the remarks dangerous and a potential threat to safety; San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said the city is “never a ‘small price to pay’.” [ 5 , 6 ]
- Republican congressional candidate Jim Desmond also opposed the remarks, saying no American city can be sacrificed. [ 5 , 6 ]
- The White House said Trump meant only to describe the Iranian threat and blamed the media for a reaction “not grounded in reality.” [ 5 , 6 ]
- Chosun Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo date the rally to Oct 5 local time, while a later Chosun Ilbo report dates it to Oct 6. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump said at a rally that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego and called it “a little price” while defending the war against Iran. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- California Governor Gavin Newsom called for invoking the 25th Amendment. [ 5 , 6 ]
- The White House said the remarks did not mean Trump wanted US cities attacked and blamed media coverage for the controversy. [ 5 , 6 ]
- The Democratic mayors of Los Angeles and San Diego criticized the remarks. [ 5 , 6 ]
- Republican candidate Jim Desmond also criticized the remarks. [ 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- The date of the Nebraska rally. Chosun Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo date it Oct 5 local time, while a later Chosun Ilbo report dates it Oct 6; Yonhap refers to it as the previous day in a report published Oct 7.
- Whom Trump meant by “they.” He did not name them; outlets inferred Iran because the remark was made while he defended the war.
- What effect the remarks will have on the US midterm elections. Outlets say the episode “could be” a liability and report concerns within the Republican Party, but give no evidence or polling.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Trump speaks at a rally in Nebraska, saying “Let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego” and calling it “a little price” while defending the war with Iran; a later Chosun Ilbo report dates the speech to Oct 6. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Senator Alex Padilla criticize the remarks; Newsom calls for invoking the 25th Amendment. The White House responds on X, saying Trump was only describing the Iranian threat. [ 5 , 6 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes its first report on the remarks (Oct 6). [ 1 ]
- Chosun Ilbo publishes a second report citing the New York Times and Reuters, saying the remarks amounted to a threat to US cities (Oct 7). [ 3 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the controversy is spreading, citing Reuters and California politicians' objections (Oct 7). [ 4 ]
- Yonhap runs a comprehensive report from Washington and San Francisco, including the White House statement and the Republican reaction (Oct 7). [ 5 ]
- Newsis reports Democratic politicians' strong reaction and the White House pushback, including a rebuke of Newsom by a White House spokesperson (Oct 7). [ 6 ]