The White House has accused Democrats and journalists of distorting President Trump’s remarks at a Nebraska rally where he referenced Iran potentially targeting two major California cities.
Communications director Steven Cheung, 40, fired back at critics on X Tuesday after Trump’s Monday comments in Omaha sparked outrage from Golden State officials. “The media freakout over President Trump’s comments is not rooted in reality,” he wrote. “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.”
Trump, 78, made the controversial remarks during a pre-midterm rally focused partly on defending his administration’s military actions against Iran. “With the war, it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe. For keeping our country safe,” he told the crowd. “They can take out a city. 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.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom immediately seized on the phrasing. “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,” he posted on X. “He is deranged and dangerous.”
Newsom’s press office X account escalated the attack, posting that “The President is advocating for an attack on 10+ million U.S. Residents in two of America’s largest cities. This is not normal. None of this is.”
The governor has emerged as Trump’s most prominent Democratic foil as he positions himself for a likely 2028 presidential bid. Trump has responded by repeatedly mocking Newsom with the nickname “Newscum,” a slur White House spokesperson Davis Ingle deployed again Tuesday in a brief comment to The Post. “Gavin Newscum is the worst governor in America, and he also may be the dumbest,” Ingle said.
The feud between Trump and California Democrats stretches back years and intensified after the deadly Palisades wildfire last year, when Trump publicly scolded Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over reconstruction delays.
Bass, who has led LA since 2022, issued a statement condemning the president’s latest rhetoric. “Thirteen million Californians call LA and San Diego counties home. Their lives are not a ‘small price to pay’ or a punchline for Donald Trump,” she wrote on X. “The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives.”
California Democratic gubernatorial nominee Xavier Becerra echoed that sentiment on X, posting identical language about the 13 million residents whose “lives are not a ‘small price to pay’ or a punchline for Donald Trump.”
Trump’s rally came as he ramps up midterm campaigning with stops scheduled across traditionally Republican states. Democrats are favored to regain House control, while Senate control remains a toss-up four weeks from election day. “My Rally crowds and enthusiasm are unbelievable! Nobody has ever seen anything like it. We are flipping races all over the place,” Trump declared on Truth Social Tuesday. “The Dumocrats never counted on this. Watch for the ‘Midterm Surprise!'”