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Trump Suggests Iran Could Target Los Angeles and San Diego, Sparking Outrage

Donald Trump said Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego, prompting condemnation from Democrats and state officials.

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Trump’s Iran Comment

On 7 October 2026, Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, and said that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego. The statement was recorded and reported by The Guardian.

Reactions

Democratic senators Chris Murphy and Bernie Sanders condemned the remark, calling it “sick” and “evil”. California Governor Gavin Newsom described Trump as deranged and dangerous, and the state’s threat-assessment centre was put on alert. Forty-three California members of Congress jointly urged the president to apologise. The White House communications director, Steven Cheung, said Trump was describing a hypothetical threat that would have existed if Iran had not been stopped.

Context

The comment came amid a broader campaign in which Trump repeatedly referred to Iran as a nuclear threat and warned of a war. The Guardian notes that the remarks are part of a pattern of divisive rhetoric that has become routine for the former president. The statement has not been verified by independent sources, and no official confirmation of the threat level has been issued.

Source & attribution

This report is based on www.theguardian.com's original reporting published 7 Oct 2026. Claims attributed to officials or parties to a conflict have not been independently verified by TotalWar.live.

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