President Donald Trump ignited a political firestorm Monday night after telling a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, that it would be a "small price to pay" if Iran were to "take out" Los Angeles or San Diego — remarks that drew swift condemnation from California leaders and split the country into sharply opposing camps over what the president meant.
What Trump actually said
Speaking at a midterm-election rally at the Pinnacle Bank Expo, Trump was defending higher gasoline prices tied to the US-Iran conflict, arguing Americans should accept the economic impact as the cost of keeping the world safe. His exact words, captured on video:
"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."
Trump added that the war was nearly over: "And it's going to be over with very soon. It's essentially almost over with." He has repeatedly predicted a quick end to the conflict. Notably, Iran's missiles currently do not have the capability to reach the United States, as MeidasNews pointed out in its report on the speech.
The backlash from California
California's top officials reacted with fury. Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X: "After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego. He is deranged and dangerous."
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria added: "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." Veteran journalist Jim Acosta noted that the crowd applauded as Trump spoke, writing: "The crowd starts to applaud as Trump fantasizes about LA and San Diego being wiped out by a nuclear attack. WTF. This is not normal." Actress Carrie Coon asked pointedly: "Can we take the keys away from Grandpa yet?"
The other side: "He was joking"
Trump's supporters pushed back hard, arguing the president was speaking rhetorically — making a point about the relative cost of the conflict, not inviting an attack on American cities. Several online defenders called the remark an obvious joke that critics were deliberately misreading. A White House representative did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for comment Monday night.
The takeaway
Whether a tasteless joke or a window into how the president weighs American lives, the remarks landed at a volatile moment — with US forces deployed in California, midterms a month away, and the Iran conflict straining household budgets. The clip is now one of the most-shared political videos of the week, and neither side shows any sign of letting it go.
📺 Watch: the viral clip of Trump's "take out" remarks about Los Angeles and San Diego at the Nebraska rally.
Music in the video version: Kevin MacLeod - Hitman (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Sources: USA Today, TheWrap, MeidasNews.