From Where We Are

Trump says Iran ‘taking out’ Los Angeles and San Diego might be a ‘small price to pay’

President Trump speaks.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, at the UN headquarters. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

On Monday, Trump told a crowd in Nebraska to let Iran “take out” Los Angeles or San Diego, saying it would be a “small price to pay” for the overall safety of the United States. The comment received severe backlash from California residents and Governor Gavin Newsom. Tom Hollihan, a professor of communication at USC Annenberg, and USC students share their insight on the issue.