Gavin Newsom Calls for 25th Amendment Against Trump Over California Remarks

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked against President Donald Trump on Tuesday after Trump said Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego, remarks the White House says were misinterpreted.

“TIME FOR THE 25TH!” Newsom said on October 6, 2026, escalating a clash over comments Trump made a day earlier in Nebraska while defending the U.S. war with Iran and its effect on fuel prices.

Trump described the economic impact of the U.S. military campaign against Iran as a “small price to pay” for keeping the country safe.

“They could take out a city,” Trump said. “Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.”

The White House said Trump was describing the threat American cities could have faced from a nuclear-armed Iran rather than encouraging an attack on California. Communications Director Steven Cheung said the president’s military policy was intended to prevent that danger.

Trump’s surrounding remarks focused on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the war and its effect on energy prices. He argued that higher fuel costs were a relatively small sacrifice compared with allowing Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. Trump had used similar language in previous appearances when describing the possibility of Iran attacking an American city.

California officials focused on the fact that Trump had named two of the state’s largest cities while discussing a hostile foreign power. Newsom directed the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor whether foreign actors treat the remarks as an invitation to target California.

“Donald Trump’s remarks were dangerous — if not treasonous — putting a target on two of our biggest cities and one of America’s largest naval hubs,” Newsom said.

Newsom’s call has no direct legal effect. Section 4 of the 25th Amendment can begin only inside the executive branch.

Vice President JD Vance and a majority of the Cabinet would have to declare that Trump is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the presidency. Vance would then become acting president.

Trump could challenge that declaration. Vance and the Cabinet would then have four days to reaffirm it, sending the dispute to Congress, which would have 21 days to act and would need two-thirds votes in both chambers to keep Vance exercising presidential authority.

Section 4 has never been invoked against a president. The amendment places the initial decision with officials inside Trump’s own administration rather than with Newsom or Congress acting on their own.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria also criticized Trump’s comments. California Sen. Alex Padilla joined Newsom in calling for the 25th Amendment to be used.

The security response carried particular significance because of the cities Trump named. Los Angeles is the nation’s second-largest city, while the San Diego region is home to major Navy and Marine Corps installations and more than 100,000 active-duty military personnel.

As of Tuesday night, Vance and the Cabinet had taken no public step toward invoking Section 4, leaving Newsom’s demand outside the formal constitutional process.