1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing because President Trump’s remarks about Iran and the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego crossed a line no President of the United States should approach. Whatever explanation the White House now attaches to his words, the President spoke about Iran being able to “take out” Los Angeles or San Diego as though the destruction of American cities—and the deaths of Americans who live there—were something to toss casually into a political speech. California is America. Los Angeles is an American city. San Diego is an American city. The people who live there are Americans. I am a Texan. We are famously proud that Texas was once its own republic, and we certainly have no shortage of state pride. But if a President spoke this way about Houston, Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio, Texans would rightly be outraged. Californians deserve exactly the same loyalty from their President and Congress. The President does not get to decide that Americans in states or cities that oppose him politically are less American, less valuable, or more expendable. This does not exist in isolation. Congress has repeatedly declined to impose meaningful limits while this administration has strained alliances, antagonized adversaries, and removed experienced military leadership under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. At a moment when the United States is in conflict with Iran, recklessness is not strength. Taunting adversaries while destabilizing institutions responsible for our national defense is not strength. I am 64 years old. I cannot remember another time in my lifetime when I have watched a President speak so casually about the potential destruction of American cities. I realize congressional Republicans have found remarkably few things President Trump can say or do that finally produce the words, “Enough.” I am no longer particularly optimistic that this will be the one. But that does not relieve you of responsibility. Congress is a separate branch of government for a reason. Your oath is to the Constitution, not to Donald Trump. When the President behaves recklessly toward the safety of American citizens, members of Congress have an obligation to say so—even when those citizens live in California and even when confronting the President is politically inconvenient. If something happens to Americans because our leaders have spent years treating threats, alliances, military leadership, and American lives as political props, Congress will not be able to say no one warned you where this kind of recklessness leads. I am asking you to publicly condemn these remarks and to start exercising the constitutional responsibility Congress has spent far too long surrendering. There are supposed to be lines a President cannot cross without members of his own party saying enough. If casually discussing an enemy “taking out” American cities is not one of them, what possibly could be?