'San Diego is not collateral damage': Gloria fires back at Trump's 'take out San Diego' rally remark
Speaking at a Nebraska rally Monday, President Trump suggested Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles or San Diego as 'a small price to pay' in the Iran war. Mayor Todd Gloria, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass answered back within hours.
SAN DIEGO: President Donald Trump said at a midterm-election rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday that Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles or San Diego as 'a small price to pay' in the war with Iran, drawing swift condemnation from California leaders including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
Trump was discussing higher gasoline prices from the conflict and arguing that Americans should accept the economic impact when he said, 'They can take out a city. Let 'em take out Los Angeles, let 'em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.' He added that the war was nearly over.
"San Diego is not collateral damage," Gloria wrote. "We are not expendable. And we are never a 'small price to pay.' Keep our city out of your reckless war talk."
Gov. Gavin Newsom linked the remarks to the administration's recent deployments of federal forces into California. "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," Newsom wrote. "He is deranged and dangerous."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the remarks 'dangerous,' saying they 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," Bass wrote.
Why San Diego hears it personally
Los Angeles and San Diego are California's two largest Southern California metro areas, home to millions of residents, major military installations, international trade hubs and critical economic infrastructure. The remarks add to ongoing tensions between Trump and California's Democratic leadership over immigration enforcement, National Guard deployments and federal-state clashes during the president's second term.
None to date. The Tribune corrects errors promptly and transparently. Read our corrections policy.
