Trump says he won't let Iran strike L.A. or San Diego
ELECTION 2026
President Donald Trump dances while exiting the stage after a midterm campaign event in San Antonio, Texas.
President Trump told a crowd in Texas on Wednesday night that he wouldn't allow Iran to attack San Diego or Los Angeles, a comment that came two days after he made off-the cuff remarks suggesting the West Coast cities could be struck.
"You want to see a horror show? You want to see problems? Let them hit San Diego, let them hit Los Angeles," Trump said at a rally. He then assured the crowd: "We are not going to let that happen. We protect our cities. We protect our country."
Trump's decision to return to the subject capped two days in which the White House was on the defensive, and it appeared aimed at tamping down the fallout from remarks he made Monday night that quickly spread online.
Speaking to a crowd in Nebraska, Trump said: "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."
The comments drew swift condemnation from California leaders, even as the White House communications director, Steven Cheung, claimed the president's remarks were taken out of context.
But the remarks were enough to rattle many in California and drew backlash from the state's leaders, including Republican Jim Desmond, a Navy veteran running in a highly competitive House race.
"I vehemently disagree with President Trump's comments," Desmond wrote on social media.
"America must stand up to Iran and defend our interests, but the first responsibility of our Commander in Chief is to protect the American people and our homeland."
Gov. Gavin Newsom opened the state emergency operations center Tuesday to assess potential threats following Trump's remarks.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also condemned the president for potentially compromising the safety of their cities.
"San Diego is not collateral damage," Gloria posted on social media. "We are not expendable. And we are never a 'small price to pay.' Keep our city out of your reckless war talk."
FBI: Teen was plotting mass shooting at mall
An 18-year-old Minnesota man was charged Wednesday with receiving a firearm and ammunition to commit a federal terrorism crime after authorities accused him of plotting a mass shooting at the Mall of America near Minneapolis in support of the Islamic State group.
The FBI arrested Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud of Richfield, Minn., on Tuesday after an undercover agent sold him an AK-47, about 200 rounds of ammunition and four 30-round magazines for $600, according to the complaint. Mohamud told the informant he planned to use the items to kill people at an event at the mall in late October.
"As alleged in the criminal complaint, Mohamud took substantial steps to plot to murder innocent people in the name of ISIS," U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota said in a released statement.
According to federal prosecutors, Mohamud sent messages in July 2026 discussing his intent to carry out a mass-casualty shooting attack at the Mall of America and claimed its owners were Jewish. He wrote that he wanted to kill 30 to 60 people so no one would go there.
The Mall of America is the largest mall in the United States, with a theme park, an aquarium and more than 500 stores.
"This individual allegedly obtained a weapon he hoped to use in a mass casualty attack in support of ISIS, but this FBI arrested him and put a stop to his plans," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. "We will continue to use every resource we have to detect and prevent acts of terrorism and wipe out their networks all over the country."
In September, Mohamud expressed a desire to kill "kuffar," a term used to refer to a non-Muslim, the Justice Department said in the statement. Mohamud identified Oct. 24 as the date of his planned attack. Federal prosecutors said he indicated he chose that day because many Asians and other "kuffar" would be attending an arts event.
"Mohamud allegedly sought to carry out a mass-casualty shooting at the Mall of America, expressing a desire to emulate some of the most horrific ISIS-inspired attacks in the United States, including the atrocities at Pulse Nightclub and 2025 New Year's Day attack in New Orleans," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said.
Mohamud made his initial court appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright.
