Gavin Newsom, Karen Bass, and Todd Gloria have stated that President Trump wants Iran to nuke Los Angeles and San Diego.

Posted by The Kuhner Report, Oct 7, 2026Checked Nov 2, 2026

Polygraph verdictMixed

Sources: 2 contradict3 support7 context
Said: 1 time·
Confidence: 50%

The Kuhner ReportOct 7, 2026

Newsom and Bass publicly characterized Trump's Oct. 5 remarks as encouraging or calling for attacks on Los Angeles and San Diego, so part of the claim is supported.

The host disputes this claim. Our verdict is not a clear true or false, so it is shown here, not scored.

This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.

What was said

… Because then ABC went with it, CNN went with it, MSN went with it, and before you know it, shazam, the Democrats are now running wild with it. And so you've got Gavin Newsom, you've got Karen Bass, the mayor of L.A., you've got Todd Gloria, the mayor of San Diego, and now you've got Democrats all over the country now spreading the disgusting, despicable lie that President Trump wants Iran to nuke Los Angeles and San Diego, and that we have a madman as president of the United States, and that this man thinks that 10 million Americans dead in a nuclear exchange is a small price to pay. …

The Kuhner Report · Oct 7, 2026· from the transcriptPost →

What we found

Contradicts. Fact-checkers found the characterization that Trump wanted the cities attacked was a misreading; FactCheck.org said a more plausible reading is that the war would prevent Iran from threatening U.S. cities, and Snopes said the White House rejected the claim.[1][2]

Supports. Newsom wrote on X that Trump 'is now saying our foreign enemies should take out Los Angeles and San Diego' and called him 'deranged and dangerous.'[5][6][7]

Supports. LA Mayor Karen Bass described Trump's remark as a threat and an attempt to 'encourage attacks on American lives.'[6]

Context. No source mentions Todd Gloria, the San Diego mayor, making any statement about Trump and Iran, so that element of the claim is not addressed.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Context. Officials said Trump 'take out' or 'encourage attacks,' not that he wants Iran to 'nuke' the cities; the sources do not use the word 'nuke' in these statements.[5][6][7]

Sources

12 sources: 4 fact-checkers, 2 tier 1, 5 not rated, 1 tier 2

1The Context for Trump's 'Take Out' Los Angeles, San Diego ...factcheck.org · fact-checker · cited for: contradicts, context
2Did Trump say of Iran, 'Let 'em take out' LA and San Diego?snopes.com · fact-checker · cited for: contradicts, context
3What Trump said about Iran taking out Los Angeles, San Diegopolitifact.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
4Trump highlights big new defense project in Marylandapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
5Newsom rips Trump for saying Iran can ‘take out’ LA and San Diegothehill.com · tier 1 · cited for: supports, context
6White House defends Trump comment to let Iran 'take out' ...bbc.com · tier 1 · cited for: supports, context
7Newsom Calls for 25th Amendment After Trump Imagines Iran ...yahoo.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
8‘Out of touch’: California pols answer Altmanpolitico.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
9Trump's suggestion Iran could 'take out' LA or San Diego ...inquirer.com · not rated · cited for: context
10Trump draws backlash after he suggests Iran could 'take ...edition.cnn.com · not rated · cited for: context
11Newsom Tears Into Trump After 'Deranged' Offerthedailybeast.com · not rated · cited for: context
12Trump suggests Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles and San ...goodmorningamerica.com · not rated · cited for: context

Where this claim was made

Said in 1 published post

The Kuhner Report · Oct 7, 2026Post →

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