President Donald Trump's comments about the potential threat Iran poses to U.S. cities have triggered a bipartisan backlash after he said Los Angeles or San Diego being destroyed would be a "small price to pay" for keeping America safe.

Trump Defends Iran War Costs

Speaking at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday, Trump argued that higher fuel, fertilizer and other costs linked to the Iran conflict were relatively minor compared with the threat posed by Iran, Reuters reported.

He said the U.S. was pursuing a "tremendous victory" and suggested that Iran could otherwise have the ability to "take out a city," specifically naming Los Angeles and San Diego.

Trump said the economic burden was a "small price to pay" for protecting the U.S. and added that the conflict was "essentially almost over" and would end soon.

On Tuesday, the White House defended his remarks. Communications Director Steven Cheung said Trump was referring to the danger U.S. cities could have faced if Iran had developed nuclear weapons.

"America is safer because of the president," Cheung said, arguing that Iran no longer has a nuclear capability, navy or air force and has been deprived of financial resources.

Cheung also pushed back on the media reaction in a post on X, writing: "The media freakout over President Trump's comments is not rooted in reality. He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn't been stopped. America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money."

California Leaders Blast Trump

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) took to X and said, "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."

In a separate post, Newsom said, "Trump's remarks were dangerous — if not treasonous — putting a target on two of our biggest cities and one of America's largest naval hubs."

He added that he is "directing the State Threat Assessment Center to actively monitor the situation in the event that foreign actors interpret the" remarks as an invitation.

Republican congressional candidate Jim Desmond, running in a competitive San Diego-area district, also took to X and said, "No American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage."

In his post, Desmond wrote: "I vehemently disagree with President Trump's comments. America must stand up to Iran and defend our interests, but the first responsibility of our Commander in Chief is to protect the American people and our homeland. As a Navy veteran, I served to protect Americans, not write" them off.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump should recognize the weight of his office, arguing that describing the potential deaths of Americans as a "small price to pay" went "beyond the pale."

"The words of an American President weigh a ton. He must not be frivolous with the weight of his office," Pelosi wrote on X. "Donald Trump has gone beyond the pale saying Iran can 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego. How could he say the slaughter of Americans is a 'small price to pay'?"

Sanders, Schumer Condemn Trump's Iran Comments

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) said the destruction of two major American cities affecting more than 5 million people could not be considered a "small price to pay."

"I can't believe we have to say this, but the annihilation of two major American cities — more than 5 million people — is not a 'small price to pay' for Trump's illegal war," Sanders posted on X. "Neither are the 19 American troops and 3,000+ Iranians who lost their lives. Our president is unhinged."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the comments "deranged" and "delusional," accusing Trump of treating millions of Americans as collateral damage.

"Deranged. Delusional. And soon to be defeated," Schumer wrote on X. "Calling millions of Americans collateral damage in his illegal war that nobody asked for takes a special kind of depravity, the kind only a man as weak and feeble as Donald Trump could sink to."

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.