Politicians slam Trump’s suggestion that Iran ‘take’ San Diego, Los Angeles

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that President Donald Trump’s comments at a Nebraska rally have drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike. According to the article, Trump suggested that, in the context of the US-Israeli war against Iran, Americans might need to accept the loss of cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego as a “small price” for victory.

The backlash intensified the next day, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling the remarks dangerous and saying Congress should limit Trump’s behavior. Newsom linked the comments to his past clashes with Trump over the deployment of federal forces in California, including Los Angeles. The article says Newsom also used the moment to argue that the midterm elections matter.

Republicans also pushed back. Jim Desmond, a Republican House candidate in the San Diego area, said he strongly disagreed and argued that no American city should be treated as expendable. Kevin Kiley, a Republican-aligned independent congressman running for re-election, described the comments as unhelpful. The White House rejected the criticism, saying Trump was referring to the threat a nuclear-armed Iran could pose.

The dispute comes amid broader political pressure over the war, which Al Jazeera says is unpopular in the US and has become an issue in the coming midterms. California’s size and electoral weight make the state central to that fight.