President Trump went to war to prevent Iran from nuking Los Angeles and San Diego.
Posted by The Kuhner Report, Checked
- Sources
- 3 contradict4 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 60%
The Kuhner ReportOct 7, 2026
The sources support the claim's core reading: the White House, Trump's Truth Social post, and fact-checkers say the Iran war was meant to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon that could threaten US cities, including LA and San Diego.
What was said
… lunatic, ala Adolf Hitler, who is now willing to sacrifice tens and tens of millions of his own people and entire cities to the mullahs in Iran in order to win that war, that he views his own people as collateral damage, when the truth is 100% the opposite. He went to war to make sure that LA. And San Diego and every American city would never be nuked by Iran. That's the point of the war, and he's saying, you know, it's a small price to pay, meaning the gas prices. It's just this has to stop. This has to stop. This is beyond irresponsible. This is beyond reckless. They're now screaming, "Fire!" In a crowded theater. …
The Kuhner Report · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. FactCheck.org says the more plausible reading is that the war would prevent Iran from posing a threat to U.S. cities, with higher gas prices a small sacrifice.[1]
Supports. Trump's own Truth Social response, as reported by Snopes, said higher gasoline prices were a small price for Iran not having a nuclear weapon.[2]
Supports. A USA Today column says Trump went to war with Iran to stop it from getting a nuclear weapon and to deter future attacks.[5]
Supports. Trump's Rapid Response account said the US is fighting to stop Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon.[6]
Contradicts. Democrats and critics, including Newsom, read Trump's remarks as calling for or accepting an attack on the two cities, but the sources show this reading is disputed rather than established.[3][4][7]
Context. Trump did not mention nuclear weapons in the rally remarks themselves; the nuclear framing comes from the White House, the Rapid Response account, and Trump's later statements.[6][8]
Sources
8 sources: 4 fact-checkers, 2 not rated, 1 tier 1, 1 tier 2
- 1The Context for Trump's 'Take Out' Los Angeles, San Diego ...factcheck.org · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Did Trump say of Iran, 'Let 'em take out' LA and San Diego?snopes.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 3What Trump said about Iran taking out Los Angeles, San Diegopolitifact.com · fact-checker · cited for: contradicts
- 4Californians blast Trump remark that Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles, San Diegoreuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: contradicts
- 5Did Trump tell Iran to take out Los Angeles? Context says no |...usatoday.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 6'You buffoons': Trump team defends remarks about Iran 'taking out' LA, San Diegocbsaustin.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 7White House defends Trump comment to let Iran 'take out' ...bbc.com · tier 1 · cited for: contradicts
- 8Trump says 'we protect our cities' after saying Iran could ' ...nbcnews.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
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- The media and Democrats are claiming that President Trump called on Iran to attack Los Angeles and San Diego.True
- Gavin Newsom, Karen Bass, and Todd Gloria have stated that President Trump wants Iran to nuke Los Angeles and San Diego.Mixed