Republican Rhetoric

Susan Estrich on Oct 8, 2026

At a campaign rally this week in Nebraska, President Donald Trump made what can most generously be described as a tasteless joke. In his flailing effort to justify a war that most Americans oppose, and that Trump himself has been unable to explain, he exaggerated the threat Iran poses, at California's expense.

"They can take out a city, let 'em take out Los Angeles, let 'em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay."

Is that supposed to be a joke? "Let 'em take out Los Angeles and San Diego?" Does Iran really have the ability to destroy Los Angeles and San Diego? The experts say no.

Is this something for a President of the United States to be joking about? You don't have to be an expert to know the answer to that.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom was quick to respond. "After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should 'take out' Los Angeles and San Diego ... He is deranged and dangerous."

His press office went one step further: "Let's be clear: The president is advocating for an attack on 10-plus million U.S. residents in two of America's largest cities. This is not normal. None of this is. And we will continue to remind folks of that every day."

There are real consequences to such reckless rhetoric. According to Newsom, the California governor's Office of Emergency Services was "already tracking more activity as relates to cyber concerns" the morning after Trump made his remarks.

"Our state operations center had to be lit up, because of what the president said about taking out two of the most populous cities and the most profoundly consequential cities in the United States of America."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, in a statement, called Trump's remarks "dangerous," saying they could "potentially compromise our safety."

"The role of a president is to protect the country, not to actively threaten it and encourage attacks on American lives," she said.

"San Diego is not collateral damage," San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria posted. "We are not expendable. And we are never a 'small price to pay.' Keep our city out of your reckless war talk."

Democrat Xavier Becerra, the front-runner for governor of California, responded as well: "Thirteen million Californians call LA and San Diego counties home. Their lives are not a 'small price to pay' or a punchline for Donald Trump."

Meanwhile, Becerra's opponent and Trump's choice for governor was engaged in tasteless humor of his own. In a campaign ad titled "Just Try It, California," two young women with facial piercings, neon-hued highlights and heavy makeup are sitting on a bed in a darkened room with a Pride flag. One woman, in a cropped "Resist" T-shirt, says she can't believe what she's about to do; the other woman strokes her hair and tells her not to be nervous.

"I've never done anything like this before," the first woman says. "What if my dad finds out?"

A tasteless prelude to lesbian sex?

The other woman tells her to close her eyes, takes her hand and says, "I'll do all the work."

The camera then pans to their laps, where they are holding a mail-in vote for Hilton.

"Now lick it," the other woman says. That's how the ad ends.

What is wrong with the Republican Party? This is their candidate for California governor. Is this the best they can do? No wonder the president is making jokes about taking out California. Shame on them both.

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