Trump Calls Potential Iranian Strikes on California Cities a ‘Small Price’ for Security

President Donald Trump suggested during an October 5, 2026, rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, that Iranian strikes on Los Angeles and San Diego could be a “small price to pay” for ensuring national security and stabilizing energy costs. Speaking at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center, the president addressed a crowd of supporters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, framing the potential loss of the two major California cities as a trade-off for broader geopolitical stability.

The remarks came as the president defended his administration’s handling of the economy and recent military actions. During the event, Trump signed an executive order intended to lower diesel costs for truckers and farmers, connecting the domestic energy crisis to his administration’s confrontation with Iran. He described the possibility of Iranian retaliation against the West Coast as a manageable risk in exchange for “keeping the world safe.”

During the Nebraska rally, an executive order was signed aimed at lowering diesel costs for the agricultural sector.

Geopolitical and Military Context

The president’s comments were tied to “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a military campaign conducted in June 2026. According to the president, that operation successfully destroyed Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities. However, the subsequent tension has been cited by the administration as a primary driver of volatile energy prices and heightened domestic security concerns.

The suggestion that major U.S. population centers could be viewed as “collateral damage” sparked an immediate reaction from California officials. The state has already been a point of federal focus; Governor Gavin Newsom referenced a previous deployment of the National Guard and Marines to the state in his rebuttal to the president’s latest remarks. Newsom denounced the suggestion of Iranian strikes as “deranged and dangerous,” accusing the president of advocating for an attack on approximately 10 million residents in the two metropolitan areas.

Backlash from California Leaders

Local leaders in Los Angeles and San Diego emphasized the strategic and human cost of such a scenario. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria stated that the city, which serves as a primary hub for the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, should not be characterized as “collateral damage.” Similarly, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the rhetoric, noting the city’s critical infrastructure, including its role as a headquarters for elements of the U.S. Space Force.

The White House has not clarified whether the president’s comments were based on specific intelligence regarding Iranian capabilities or if they were intended as hyperbolic campaign rhetoric. In Nebraska, the president focused on rallying voters for the 2026 midterms, urging residents to support candidates such as Senator Pete Ricketts and Governor Jim Pillen. He encouraged the deep-red state constituency to “pretend” he was on the ballot themselves as he continues to campaign against the leadership of liberal-leaning states.

The legal and administrative status of federal forces currently in California remains a point of contention between the state and the executive branch. Governor Newsom’s office has maintained that the federal presence complicates local governance, while the president has frequently used California as a rhetorical foil during his 2026 campaign stops to highlight his “America First” energy and security policies.

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