Newsom calls Trump ‘mentally ill’ in 25th Amendment plea after ‘take out’ LA crack

Newsom calls Trump ‘mentally ill’ in 25th Amendment plea after ‘take out’ LA crack Trump faced backlash after calling a hypothetical attack by Iran on San Diego or Los Angeles a ‘very small price to pay’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in California Governor Gavin Newsom has branded President Trump “mentally ill” in a new call for him to be removed from office via the 25th Amendment. Newsom’s attack, the latest in the long-running feud between the two politicians, comes after Trump flippantly suggested Iran could ‘take out’ Los Angeles or San Diego. Trump said it would be a “small price to pay” for keeping the “world safe” through his conflict with the Islamic Republic, during a speech to MAGA supporters in Nebraska Monday. Responding to Trump’s apparent joke, Newsom was blunt. He told The Hill on Tuesday Trump was “mentally ill.” “TIME FOR THE 25TH!” he added. California Senator Alex Padilla echoed Newsom’s sentiment on X, writing: “Three words. 25th AMENDMENT NOW.” Section 4 of the 25th Amendment enables the vice president and the cabinet to declare the commander-in-chief unable to serve. That leads to the vice president becoming the acting president. Trump made the widely condemned remarks while speaking about the impact of the war with Iran on the cost-of-living. “It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” he continued, before adding: “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.” In a post on X, Newsom suggested that Trump’s comments may have been “treasonous.” “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,” he wrote. “I am directing the State Threat Assessment Center to actively monitor the situation in the event that foreign actors interpret the President’s remarks as an invitation to target California.” In another post, Newsom added: “He is deranged and dangerous.” The governor also took a swipe at Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their lack of public response to the comments. “The SILENCE from JD Vance and Marco Rubio is deafening,” he wrote on X. While Trump’s remarks drew cheers from the crowd in Nebraska he has faced criticism from members of his own party. One former Trump aide working on the midterms campaign told The Hill that the president has complicated their efforts. “While it is clear the president was joking, it’s not helpful to have these comments out there with a month to go,” the aide said, adding: “It basically means that instead of focusing on Democrats, we’re addressing something he said.” The White House has rallied behind the president in the wake of his remarks, with Communications Director Steven Cheung branding the response a “media freakout”. “He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn't been stopped,” Cheung wrote on X “America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments