President Donald Trump sparked intense backlash from California leaders after suggesting that attacks on Los Angeles and San Diego would be an acceptable cost in a conflict with Iran. During a campaign event in Nebraska, the former president characterized the potential loss of these cities as a "small price to pay" for global security.
The Grand Island rally and the 'small price' of two cities
While speaking at a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, Donald Trump suggested that Iran could "take out" major California hubs like Los Angeles and San Diego. According to the report, Donald Trump argued that such an event would be a "small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe," while framing the current state of war as "artificial."
The reaction from California was immediate and severe. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria responded via X, stating that San Diego is not "collateral daage" and is not expendable. Governor Gavin Newsom and several other state officials joined the condemnation, arguing that the rhetoric is reckless and puts millions of civilians at risk.
San Diego's 115,000 servicemembers and the USS Lincoln
The comments have hit a particular nerve in San Diego due to the city's deep ties to the U.S. military. Representative Scott Peters noted that San Diego is home to 115,000 active duty servicemembers and their families, making the suggestion that the city is expendable particularly offensive to the local culture.
Adding to the tension, Representative Scott Peters highlighted the plight of sailors and marines currently stranded on the USS Lincoln. The report says that these personnel have been away for months due to what Peters described as Donald Trump's "reckless war in Iran," further complicating the relationship between the former president and the military community in Southern California.
Noah Tietjens and the 19 lives lost in the Iran conflict
The current friction is part of a larger, ongoing conflict with Iran that Senator Alex Padilla describes as an "unauthorized war." This conflict has already resulted in the deaths of at least 19 servicemembers, including Noah Tietjens of Nebraska, the very state where Donald Trump made his recent remarks.
Senator Alex Padilla argued that inviting attacks on U.S. soil is a betrayal of the Commander in Chief's oath. This pattern of escalation reflects a broader tension regarding how the U.S. manages its interests in the Middle East and whether the domestic cost of such conflicts is being properly weighed by leadership.
Marni von Wilpert's claim of an impeachable offense
The political fallout has extended to calls for legal accountability. san Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert characterized the suggestion that a foreign government could attack a U.S. city as an "impeachable offense," asserting that the President's oath to protect the country makes such comments indefensible.
Councilmember Marni von Wilpert specifically pointed to the 1.4 million people living in San Diego, arguing that they cannot be treated as a "political punch line." She further linked the economic strain of the conflict to the daily lives of Californians, claiming that citizens are already paying for the war every time they purchase gasoline.
Why Navy veteran Jim Desmond broke ranks
The backlash has not been limited to Democrats; Republican Jim Desmond, a Navy veteran, also condemned the remarks. Jim Desmond stated that his military service was dedicated to protecting Americans, not writing off entire cities as an acceptable cost of war.
Despite this rift, several questions remain regarding the operational status of the USS Lincoln and the specific nature of the "unauthorized war" mentioned by Senator Alex Padilla. The source does not provide a response from the Trump campaign regarding whether these comments were intended as hyperbole or a specific strategic outlook, leaving the exact intent of the "small price" remark unverified.
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