Ryan Bort
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Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Pinnacle Bank Expo Center on the Nebraska State Fairgrounds on Oct. 5, 2026 in Grand Island, Nebraska. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) The midterm elections are weeks away and Donald Trump is on the campaign trail, trying desperately to convince Americans that the cost of living crisis both isn’t his fault and not that big of a deal.
He was in Nebraska on Monday, insisting that soaring costs are “a small price to pay” to ensure Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon.
“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, for keeping our country safe,” he said. “They could take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.”
It certainly seems that the “very small price to pay” is in reference to high prices, not the obliteration of Los Angeles or San Diego, despite how Trump’s comments have been characterized on the internet. Nevertheless, it isn’t great that the the president of the United States is casually tossing out the prospect of Iran annihilating major cities in a state he has repeatedly denigrated.
The state’s lawmakers are not happy.
“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,” wrote California Governor Gavin Newsom. “He is deranged and dangerous.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also weighed in. “The President of the United States suggested that a foreign government attack Los Angeles,” she wrote. “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.”
Rep. Derek Tran (D-Calif.) was born in Los Angeles and currently represents parts of the city in Congress. He wrote: “I’ve remained silent to the topic of President Trump’s mental fitness but his statement today can only lead me to affirmatively believe that: 1. Trump is suffering from mental health issues for calling on the deaths of millions of Americans; 2. A sitting U.S. President encouraging the attacks on two U.S. cities is treasonous; and 3. There is no option but to win this November to make him a lame-duck to protect the lives of millions of patriotic Americans.”
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Maria Shriver, the former first lady of California, wrote that Trump’s comments should “outrage every American.”
“This is the president of the United States telling Iran to bomb American cities,” she continued. “I live in Los Angeles, but that’s beside the point. Tomorrow it could be your city. My fellow Americans, this is not normal. This is not funny. This behavior should ring alarm bells for us all!”
