Newsom Calls for 25th Amendment After Trump Remarks on Iran Conflict and California Cities

California Governor Gavin Newsom has called President Trump “mentally ill” and urged invocation of the 25th Amendment. The statement follows remarks by Trump during a speech in Nebraska on Monday in which he discussed the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Trump stated that the effects of the conflict on living costs represented “a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe.” He added: “They can take out a city…let ’em take, let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego. That’s… this is a very small price to pay.”

Newsom responded on Tuesday in comments to The Hill, saying Trump was “mentally ill” and writing “TIME FOR THE 25TH!” California Senator Alex Padilla posted on X that the 25th Amendment should be invoked immediately. Section 4 of the amendment provides a process by which the vice president and cabinet can declare the president unable to discharge duties, after which the vice president assumes the role of acting president.

In separate posts on X, Newsom described Trump’s remarks as “dangerous - if not treasonous” and said they placed targets on major cities and a naval hub. He directed the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor developments in case foreign actors interpreted the comments as an invitation to act against California. Newsom also referred to Trump as “deranged and dangerous” and criticized the lack of public statements from Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump’s comments occurred while addressing the impact of the Iran conflict on domestic costs and received applause from the audience at the event. Some Republican campaign officials have expressed concern that the remarks require additional response efforts one month before midterm elections. One former Trump aide told The Hill that, while the president was joking, the comments shifted focus away from Democratic opponents.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung stated that the reaction constituted a “media freakout.” Cheung wrote that Trump had been indicating U.S. cities would have faced threats from a nuclear-armed Iran and that the country is now safer because Iran possesses no nuclear weapons, navy, air force, or substantial funds.

The exchange continues a series of public disagreements between Newsom and Trump. No formal steps have been taken by the vice president or cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment.