White House pushes back after Trump says Iran could take out a U.S. city

On Oct. 6, 2026 the White House publicly rebuked critics after President Donald Trump told a campaign crowd in Nebraska that Iran "can take out a city" such as Los Angeles or San Diego.

The comment ignited a backlash from California leaders and raised concerns about the president’s rhetoric on nuclear threats, prompting the administration to emphasize that the remarks were meant to highlight the danger of a nuclear‑armed Iran and to stress ongoing diplomatic efforts.

During the rally, Trump said, "They can take out a city. Let them take — let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon," adding that the United States was fighting to stop Iran from gaining that capability.

Governor Gavin Newsom called the statement "deranged and dangerous" and said his State Threat Assessment Center was monitoring the situation for any foreign actors who might interpret the remarks as an invitation to attack. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the president’s words as "dangerous" and warned they could compromise city safety.

In response, the White House’s Rapid Response account posted, "No, he didn’t, you buffoons," asserting that Trump was warning about the threat rather than encouraging it. Communications director Steven Cheung added that the media frenzy was "not rooted in reality," reiterating that the president was stating U.S. cities would be at risk if Iran obtained a nuclear weapon.

Cheung further noted that Iran currently lacks a nuclear arsenal, a navy, an air force, and the financial resources needed to execute such an attack, underscoring the administration’s focus on diplomatic channels to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear capability.

The White House said it will continue to prioritize diplomatic measures aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, while monitoring the political fallout from the president’s remarks.