Trump appears to reframe 'let them hit’ comment during San Antonio rally

President Donald Trump appeared to walk back a controversial remark about Iran during a rally in San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 8, 2026. Speaking there, he suggested that Iran could strike San Diego or Los Angeles only in a scenario where it possessed nuclear weapons, a condition he had not clearly stated before, according to NBC News.

The adjustment came after backlash over what he told supporters in Nebraska. At that event, the president said Iran was capable of taking out the two California cities, wording that drew sharp criticism. California Democrats objected, and Governor Gavin Newsom condemned Trump for the statement.

The San Antonio appearance was part of a campaign swing ahead of the midterm elections, with control of Congress at stake. NBC News coverage around the event also noted that a protester at the Texas rally was grabbed by an audience member, and that Democrats in Texas are facing text messages and advertisements aimed at candidate James Talarico. The reframing leaves open how the president wants his earlier Iran comments to be understood, since he did not publicly retract the Nebraska remark in the portion of the rally NBC News showed.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News →