LA and San Diego residents horrified by Trump's suggestion that Iran could destroy them

Donald Trump's suggestion that Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego has drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum. The president made the remarks at a rally in Nebraska on Monday night, where the crowd cheered. Residents of the two west coast cities woke on Tuesday to another day of record-breaking heat, and the comments raised tempers further.

The governor's response

California Governor Gavin Newsom called the remarks dangerous, if not treasonous, saying they put a target on two of the state's biggest cities and one of America's largest naval hubs. Many Californians see the comments as part of the president's fixation on undermining west coast progressivism and diversity. The most visible example was the deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles during ICE raids in 2025.

Voices in Los Angeles

Jessica, a 28-year-old Los Angeles hair stylist, gave only her first name because she fears for the safety of her Mexican-born parents. She said she was shocked to see the comments on social media. Jens Midthun, president of the downtown LA neighborhood council who spoke only for himself, said the president seemed obsessed with California and Los Angeles. He urged Trump to work on other issues instead.

San Diego's reaction

The response was especially strong in San Diego, which is home to about a quarter-million veterans and one of the largest concentrations of military personnel in the US. A report released last year said the military supports nearly 357,000 local jobs and $61.3bn of the county's economy. Defense spending accounts for 22% of the gross regional product, and one in four active-duty marines is based there.

Gil Field of San Diego Veterans for Peace said it sounded as though Trump was willing to give the city up. Jim Desmond, a Republican naval veteran running for Congress in San Diego, wrote on X that no American city is expendable and no family should be treated as collateral damage.