Republican candidate for U.S. House in California's 48th district.
Case
Trump told a Nebraska rally "Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego." California officials say he called attacks on the cities a small price for the Iran war; the White House says he meant a nuclear Iran's threat.
Case
An issue tracker recording where members of Congress and 2026 midterm candidates stand on the unauthorized Iran war, based on their votes on war-powers resolutions, campaign statements, and public remarks.
Role at the time: San Diego County supervisor and Republican candidate for U.S. House in California's 48th District
Response to this claim
Trump accepts attacks on Los Angeles and San Diego as a cost of the Iran war: "if it means attacks on two major American cities in the process, he is not troubled by the cost."
“As a Navy veteran, I served to protect Americans, not write off American cities as an acceptable price of war.”
The reference point is whether Trump's remark meant Iranian attacks on Los Angeles and San Diego would be an acceptable price for the war, as critics read it, rather than that the war prevents a nuclear Iran from being able to attack them, as the White House says. Desmond reads the remark as writing off American cities as an acceptable price of war and says he vehemently disagrees, which asserts and condemns the critics' reading. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional, because he also says America must stand up to Iran; but that is support for the war's aims, not a defense of the remark. Evidence: Desmond's own campaign post on X.
Role at the time: Republican nominee for U.S. House, California's 48th district; San Diego County supervisor and Navy veteran
Statement summary
In a San Diego Union-Tribune questionnaire, Jim Desmond said confronting Iran's nuclear ambitions was necessary but that the war's costs cannot be dismissed, and that he would support authorizing the war past 60 days only if the administration presents clear objectives, a defined strategy and a responsible path forward.
“On balance, confronting Iran's nuclear ambitions was necessary. But Americans are also feeling the real costs. Gas prices have surged and inflation is rising. That cannot be dismissed. Congress has a constitutional duty here. The War Powers Resolution exists for a reason, and the 60-day deadline is now. I would support authorization only if the administration presents clear objectives, a defined strategy and a responsible path forward for our servicemembers.”
Desmond called the confrontation necessary while conditioning any further authorization on clear objectives and strategy, a conditional position between full support and opposition.
Statement dates: May 7, 2026 to October 5, 2026
Statement dates: May 7, 2026 to October 5, 2026
Statement dates: May 7, 2026 to October 5, 2026
