California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that he has directed the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor for potential threats after former President Donald Trump suggested Iran could target Los Angeles and San Diego.
"Donald 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," Newsom posted on X, formerly Twitter. "I am directing the State Threat Assessment Center to actively monitor the situation in the event that foreign actors interpret the President’s remarks as an invitation to target California."
Newsom was referencing comments Trump made during a rally in Nebraska on Monday. Trump, discussing rising fuel prices he attributed to a war he initiated with Iran, stated, "It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, for keeping our country safe." He then added, "They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego."
Newsom responded to Trump's remarks later that night, calling them "deranged and dangerous" and accusing Trump of "sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California" before suggesting foreign enemies target American cities.
In another post Tuesday, Newsom criticized the "silence" from Republican figures JD Vance and Marco Rubio regarding Trump's comments.
White House communications director Steven Cheung defended Trump’s remarks, stating on X that the "media freakout" was unfounded. Cheung asserted that Trump was "clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped," although he did not elaborate on why Trump specifically mentioned Democrat-led cities. Cheung added that "America is safer because of the President" and that "Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money."