President Trump says Los Angeles, San Diego could be destroyed amid Iran war. What is he smoking?

by TASS [10-5-2026].

(RAD: When I first saw these assertions by Trump, I just ignored them as another demented fantasy on his part, but then I realized that it must be addressed. Why would he even say this at the rally in Nebraska? Are people so uninformed that they would believe this nonsense?

Let's examine a few hard facts. The straight-line distance between Iran and California varies by specific location, ranging from approximately 7,360 miles (San Francisco to Tehran) to 7,851 miles (Los Angeles to central Iran). Iran doesn't have any intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), nor do they have any other missiles that can target anything in the US mainland. They also don't have any destroyer ships or submarines that could get close enough to the US border to do any damage.

Iran's longest-range deployed ballistic missile is the Sejjil, a two-stage, solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile with an estimated range of 2,000 km (some sources cite up to 2,500 km for the Sejjil-2 variant). This is only 1,240 miles, so it is useless for attacking Los Angeles at 7,851 miles.

The US & Israel launched an unprovoked illegal war against Iran on February 28th this year, as a continuation of the 12-day war in 2025. The US has not achieved a single objective in this war.

Yes, Iran & Trump signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June, BUT it was & has been the US who has NOT followed the MoU, not Iran. At this point, Iran has essentially destroyed all US military bases in the Persian Gulf & has made it very clear that the US military is not welcome anywhere in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz was OPEN BEFORE the US & Israel attacked Iran on February 28th. Iran now controls Hormuz, yet the US refuses to acknowledge the reality in the Persian Gulf & should simply stop trying to gain some 'victory'. Both China & Russia are fully behind Iran & are supporting them in many ways, including military.

Larry Johnson has analyzed the many ways the world economy is suffering because of damage to petroleum & gas infrastructure in the Persian Gulf & restrictions on which tankers can travel through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump should realize that he has no 'cards' to play against Iran & should just follow the MoU terms & get out of the Persian Gulf. He has already lost. None of what he said at this rally about Iran stands up to an objective fact-based analysis. Anyone who believes what he said about Iran at this rally is also not in touch with reality. — RAD)

The US president did not explain his remarks.

WASHINGTON, October 6. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump said Los Angeles and San Diego, both in California, could be destroyed in connection with the US war against Iran.

"I want to see a tremendous victory. I want to see a tremendous victory because it verifies all the things we did. And again, remember, with the war, it’s just artificial. [Prices for goods are] a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe," Trump said at a rally in Nebraska. "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 very soon. It’s essentially almost over, and they might keep going a little long." He added that the war would soon end one way or another. Trump did not explain his remarks.

The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding providing for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon. However, overnight into July 8, the United States resumed large-scale strikes on Iran, accusing Tehran of violating the agreements concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 25% of global oil trade and about 20% of global liquefied natural gas trade pass through the waterway. The US administration subsequently effectively signaled an end to the large-scale use of military force against Iran and a shift toward attempts to economically suffocate the country through sanctions.