Sacramento, CA
Gov. Gavin Newsom strongly condemned President Donald Trump on Tuesday after Trump appeared to suggest at a rally that Iran could strike Los Angeles and San Diego. Newsom also directed state security officials to monitor for potential threats.
Trump made the remarks Monday at a political rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, where he defended his administration’s military operations against Iran despite rising costs. “Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego,” Trump said, and attendees appeared to cheer. He also called the situation “a very small price to pay” and said the conflict would be over soon.
Newsom, who is weighing a 2028 presidential run, called Trump “deranged and dangerous.” In a post on X, he said the remarks put a target on two of California’s biggest cities and one of the nation’s largest naval hubs, calling them dangerous, “if not treasonous.” The National reported that Newsom also described the comments as “disgusting and disqualifying.”
Newsom wrote that Trump was making the remarks after sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California. He also called for invoking the 25th Amendment.
Newsom said he directed the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor for any possible threats to California after what he described as Trump’s “invitation” to Iran.
San Diego is the nation’s eighth-largest city. It is home to Naval Base San Diego, the Pacific Fleet’s homeport, and Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, the main training ground for Navy SEALs on the West Coast. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, home to about 70,000 civilians and service members, is also in the area
Local leaders joined the criticism. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said his city is “not collateral damage” and is not expendable. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said a president’s role is to protect the country, not threaten it or encourage attacks on American lives
The White House disputed the characterization of Trump’s comments. Spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote on social media that the media reaction was “not rooted in reality.” A statement from a White House-affiliated account said Trump is fighting to stop Iran from gaining the ability to hit the two cities with a nuclear weapon.
The exchange is the latest clash between Trump and Newsom. Last year, Trump sent the National Guard to Los Angeles to control immigration-related protests, and Newsom sued the administration. Trump ended the Guard deployment in Los Angeles on Dec. 31, 2025. In June, Newsom also claimed Trump had ordered a criminal investigation into him and his wife.