California Leaders Condemn Trump for Dragging U.S. Into 'War of Choice' Against Iran

State's Democratic leaders quickly denounce U.S.-Israel attack, acknowledge Iran's 'corrupt and oppressive' regime must go

Mar. 3, 2026 at 4:47am by Ben Kaplan

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Within hours of President Donald Trump announcing 'major combat operations' against Iran that are believed to have killed the nation's leader, California's top leaders condemned the U.S. and Israel missile strikes as illegal, echoing a Democratic Party line that's in stark odds with Republican counterparts. Gov. Gavin Newsom, both U.S. senators and several other top officials acknowledged what Newsom described as a 'corrupt and repressive Iranian regime,' but said it didn't justify the risks to American lives.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing partisan divide over U.S. foreign policy, with California's Democratic leaders strongly opposing Trump's decision to launch an unauthorized military strike against Iran, while Republicans in other parts of the country have hailed the operation as a necessary response to Iran's nuclear threats.

The details

The U.S. Navy ship launched missiles against Iran on Saturday, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there are 'growing signs' that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was not seen in public since the strike began, 'is no longer alive.' A protest was planned for Saturday afternoon at San Francisco's federal building on Seventh Street.

  • On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced 'major combat operations' against Iran.
  • On Saturday, a U.S. Navy ship launched missiles against Iran.
  • On Saturday, a protest was planned at San Francisco's federal building on Seventh Street.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The governor of California who acknowledged Iran's 'corrupt and repressive' regime but said it didn't justify the risks to American lives.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The Israeli Prime Minister who said there are 'growing signs' that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'is no longer alive.'

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who announced 'major combat operations' against Iran.

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What they’re saying

“The corrupt and repressive Iranian regime must never have nuclear weapons. The leadership of Iran must go. But that does not justify the President of the United States engaging in an illegal, dangerous war that will risk the lives of our American service members and our friends without justification to the American people.”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

“President Trump's decision to initiate military hostilities into Iran starts another unnecessary war which endangers our servicemembers and destabilizes an already fragile region.”

— Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita, U.S. House of Representatives

“Donald Trump is dragging the United States into a war the American people do not want. Let me be clear: I am opposed to a regime-change war in Iran, and our troops are being put in harm's way for the sake of Trump's war of choice.”

— Kamala Harris, Former Vice President and U.S. Senator

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing partisan divide over U.S. foreign policy, with California's Democratic leaders strongly opposing Trump's decision to launch an unauthorized military strike against Iran, while Republicans in other parts of the country have hailed the operation as a necessary response to Iran's nuclear threats.