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Trump draws cheers, then criticism for musing about Iran taking out U.S. cities

PBS • October 6, 2026 • general

Key Points:

At a Nebraska rally, President Donald Trump suggested that Iran could "take out" major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, framing it as a "very small price to pay" in his conflict with Tehran.
The crowd reacted with laughter and cheers to Trump's remarks, which sparked criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called the comments "deranged and dangerous."
Trump has a pattern of disparaging large, predominantly Democratic cities, previously deploying federal troops to Los Angeles against local opposition and criticizing other cities like those in North Carolina.
These statements come amid ongoing political campaigns, with Trump defending his policies and rallying support for Republican candidates.