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Trump Sparks Outrage After Suggesting California Cities Are a Small Price to Pay
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Firstpost•07-10-2026, 10:55
Trump Sparks Outrage After Suggesting California Cities Are a Small Price to Pay
- •President Donald Trump suggested at a Nebraska rally that potential strikes on Los Angeles and San Diego would be a small price to pay for national security.
- •The remarks triggered sharp condemnation from California Governor Gavin Newsom and local mayors, who labeled the comments dangerous and deranged.
- •The White House defended the statements, stating they were taken out of context and meant to illustrate a hypothetical threat from a nuclear Iran.
- •Both Los Angeles and San Diego house critical national defense installations and supply chain hubs, making the remarks deeply concerning to defense communities.
- •The controversy impacts the 2026 US midterm elections, with Democrats leveraging the comments in battleground districts across Southern California.
Key Questions Answered
Addressing supporters in Nebraska, Trump discussed high energy prices and the conflict with Iran, suggesting that potential strikes on major American cities like Los Angeles and San Diego would be a "small price to pay" for security.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung stated that Trump's remarks were taken out of context, explaining that the president was describing a hypothetical threat scenario regarding what could have happened without US action against Iran.
California Governor Gavin Newsom called the remarks "deranged and dangerous" and directed the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor intelligence streams, while local leaders like Mayor Karen Bass and Mayor Todd Gloria strongly condemned the statements.
