Trump Says Iran War Will End 'Very Soon' as Remarks About Los Angeles and San Diego Spark Backlash

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is doing "extremely well" in its war with Iran. He told supporters that Iran's military is "shot" and suggested a decision on how to end the conflict is coming soon. But comments he made at a rally the day before set off a political firestorm at home.

'A Small Price to Pay'

Campaigning for Nebraska Republicans at the state fair in Grand Island on Monday, Trump said US forces had knocked out Iran's navy, air force and much of the Revolutionary Guard leadership. "It's going to end very soon, and your prices are going to come down," he said.

He called the war a "small price to pay" to keep the country safe from Tehran. Arguing that a nuclear-armed Iran "can take out a city," he added: "Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay."

Illustration: A campaign rally on the midterm trail.

California Fires Back

California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on X that the president is "deranged and dangerous." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote, "Keep LA out of your damn mouth." San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said, "San Diego is not collateral damage. We are not expendable," and urged the president to keep the city "out of your reckless war talk."

The White House said the president was describing the danger American cities would have faced if a nuclear Iran had not been stopped, and that the country is safer because of his actions.

Illustration: San Diego, home to a major US Navy presence, is at the center of the dispute.

'Holding Up the Whole World'

Speaking at Sparrows Point in Maryland on Tuesday, Trump said allies have left the war to Washington. "It's always us," he said. "We're really holding up the whole world." He said world leaders thank him, but when he asks them to send ships, they decline. He also said he personally believes Iran was responsible for the attempted attack on a FlyDubai flight.

The Home Front

At home, the war is shaping the midterm campaign. Gasoline prices have risen as Brent crude trades near $100 a barrel. Trump has blamed Ukraine and Democrats for the increase, while Democrats accuse the administration of fighting an open-ended war without a clear exit plan. Overseas, tankers were struck in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, and US bombers were moved out of a British air base over a suspected Iranian plot.

What's Next

The president says Americans will soon learn whether the war ends the "nice" way or the "not-so-nice" way. Tehran has called talks with Washington "meaningless," so the coming days could bring either a diplomatic opening or another escalation, with less than a month to go before Election Day.