Newsom says Trump is 'mentally ill,' calls for 25th Amendment over remarks on Los Angeles and San Diego

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called on Tuesday for the invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump after the president suggested at a campaign rally in Nebraska that Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego as "a small price to pay."

The White House said Trump was arguing that U.S. cities would have been at risk if a nuclear Iran had not been stopped, and that the war is the price of keeping Tehran from ever having that capability.

"Time for the 25th!"

"TIME FOR THE 25TH!" Newsom declared in a statement quoted by The Hill, adding that Trump is "mentally ill."

The comment comes after Newsom reacted on Tuesday night on X to Trump's remarks. The governor wrote that, after sending the National Guard and Marines to California, the president was now saying that foreign enemies should "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego. "He is deranged and dangerous," he added.

The governor, seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, led the charge against the president's comments, although his call has no direct legal effect. Section 4 of the 25th Amendment can only be invoked by the vice president and a majority of the cabinet, not by a state governor.

Trump's comments in Nebraska

During a midterm campaign rally on Monday in Grand Island, Nebraska, Trump defended the economic costs of the war with the Iranian regime, including high gas prices, and declared: "It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe."

He then added: "They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego."

Criticism from California and within the GOP

Newsom wasn't the only California politician to lash out at Trump. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) called the comments "dangerous and could potentially compromise our safety."

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, also a Democrat, called on the president to "keep our city out of your reckless war talk."

White House responds

The White House vehemently rejected what it called an unfair characterization of Trump's comments. Steven Cheung, director of communications, wrote on X: "The media freakout over President Trump’s comments is not rooted in reality."

"He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn't been stopped. America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money," Cheung added.

The White House Rapid Response account was even more forceful in a message to The Los Angeles Times: "No, he didn't, you buffoons. He was saying the U.S. is fighting to STOP Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon — which they would if they had the chance."