Trump suggests – At a Nebraska rally, Donald Trump suggested Iran targeting major California cities would be a ‘small price to pay,’ drawing sharp rebukes from state leaders.
The applause from the Grand Island crowd followed a striking proposition from Donald Trump: that the potential destruction of Los Angeles and San Diego might be a manageable consequence of global conflict.
“They can take out a city, let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego,” Trump said during a sprawling campaign speech on Monday. “This is a very small price to pay.”
Trump. who was in Nebraska to encourage voter turnout. framed his rhetoric as part of a larger push for a “tremendous victory” in November. He insisted that current global tensions are “artificial” and “a little bit high. ” characterizing the potential loss of two major American hubs as part of keeping the country safe.
The remarks triggered immediate condemnation from California officials who rejected the casual framing of their cities as expendable. Governor Gavin Newsom took to social media to call the former president “deranged and dangerous. ” citing a history of rhetoric involving the deployment of the National Guard and Marines to the state. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria echoed that outrage. posting that his city is not “collateral damage” and demanding to be kept out of what he labeled “reckless war talk.”.
Beyond the political fallout, the suggestion lacks grounding in current military intelligence. While U.S. officials have expressed long-standing concerns that Iran’s space program could eventually facilitate the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. there is no evidence that Iran currently possesses the capability to strike the U.S. mainland. In March. Iran launched missiles toward the remote island of Diego Garcia. but the projectile fell well short of the island. which sits outside the 1. 240-mile range the country has self-imposed on its own ballistic program.
Local law enforcement in California had previously received warnings regarding the potential for surprise drone attacks tied to tensions with Iran, but those threats were ultimately dismissed by officials as lacking credible intelligence.
Trump’s Monday appearance was characterized by a wide range of topics. including predictions of falling gas prices. claims regarding his role in the ouster of Venezuela’s dictator. and attacks on various news outlets. As the campaign continues. the disconnect between his rhetoric on foreign adversaries and the reality of their current military capacity remains a central point of contention.
Donald Trump Iran California Los Angeles San Diego Gavin Newsom Todd Gloria rally national security