California Governor Gavin Newsom continues to push back against President Donald Trump over his controversial remarks at a campaign rally in Nebraska earlier this week.
Newsom, who has long been one of Trump’s staunchest critics, called the president “mentally ill,” telling reporters, “Time for the 25th!” in reference to a provision in the US Constitution that allows for the removal of a president for being unable to perform their duties.
Gavin Newsom. Image Credit: Gage Skidmore.
Trump Cites Los Angeles, San Diego as Possible Terror Attack Targets
The president made the remarks Newsom takes issue with during a campaign rally in Nebraska, where Trump justified the continued war in Iran, saying that the effects of the war – which include all-time high gas prices – were “artificial” and a “small price to pay” for keeping the world and the US safe from the threat of Iran.
He went on to say that Iran could soon be capable of launching terror attacks at US cities if left unchallenged. “They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego,” he added, to applause from the audience.
Many took the remarks as implications that President Trump would have little sympathy for an attack against these cities, which are heavily Democratic.
In a reaction posted on X, Newsom called the president “deranged and dangerous.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the remarks, accusing Trump of painting targets on the backs of political opponents by “actively threatening” and “encouraging attacks” against them.
San Diego Todd Gloria echoed the sentiments, calling on Trump to keep the city out of his “reckless war talk” and to stop seeing the city as “collateral damage.”
Some Republicans Criticize Remarks
Jim Desmond, the Republican running for California’s open 48th Congressional District seat, said Trump dropped the ball with those comments.
“The first responsibility of our commander in chief is to protect the American people and our homeland,” Desmond said, who added that he “vehemently disagreed” with the president’s remarks.
President Donald J. Trump participates in an interview with Trey Yingst, foreign correspondent for Fox New, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Joyce Boghosian)
Desmond continued, “As a Navy veteran, I served to protect Americans, not write off American cities as an acceptable price of war… No American city is expendable, and no American family should ever be treated as collateral damage.”
Kevin Kiley, a US representative who is independent but caucuses with Republicans, remarked that Trump’s comments were “unhelpful.”
White House Rallies Defense
The White House has been on the defensive when asked about the comments, with White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung saying that the president was only speaking in hypotheticals and was “clearly stating that U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped.”
Cheung added that “America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.”
The official White House Rapid Response account on X had harsher words, calling critics of the president’s comments “buffoons.”
“No, he didn’t, you buffoons. He was saying the U.S. is fighting to STOP Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon — which they would if they had a chance,” a post on the account read.
Does the 25th Amendment Apply?
Newsom has invoked the 25th Amendment against Trump multiple times, saying that Trump’s speeches often sounded like the “ramblings of a mad king.”
However, Republicans pointed out that Democrats were defending former president Joe Biden from accusations of mental decline, especially towards the end of his presidency.
The White House communications office also sought to brush off Trump’s remarks, saying the president was speaking about America’s defense and that reactions to the comments, 25th Amendment included, were a mere “media freakout” and “not rooted in reality.”
Preparing for 2028?
Newsom’s remarks about the president come as the California governor is seen as one of the Democrats’ top choices for a presidential front-runner in 2028.
Newsom has said he is open to a presidential run in 2028 during an interview with Robert Costa on CBS’ Sunday Morning.
“Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise. I’d just be lying,” Newsom replied when pushed by Costa if he would give a presidential run “serious thought.” The 58-year old politician, who began his political career in 1996 as an appointee for the San Francisco Parking and Traffic Commission, is widely believed to be testing the waters after multiple trips to key battleground states.
About the Author: Tim Ramos
Tim Ramos has written for various publications, corporations, and organizations, covering everything from finance and politics to travel, entertainment, and sports, in Asia and the U.S. for more than 10 years.
