California Governor Gavin Newsom called out President Donald Trump on X, saying that Trump is “threatening to wipe out an entire civilization” despite having promised “no new wars” to the American people. This came after Trump suggested the US would destroy Iranian “civilisation” if Tehran doesn’t open the Strait of Hormuz and agree to his terms.
About 12 hours before a self-imposed deadline for Iran, Trump posted on Truth Social, threatening the destruction of the country, writing, “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.” For over two weeks, Trump had been warning that he would order the destruction of Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power stations, if his demands were not met.
Iran is the heir to the millennia-old Persian civilization, one of the most influential in human history. Despite this, a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran has been reached, and talks between the two sides are now set to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, AP News reports. It is a sign that diplomacy may still have a role in easing the situation.
Democratic lawmakers are speaking out loudly, but Republican opposition remains nearly silent
The US and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28, and since then Trump’s rhetoric has grown increasingly aggressive. Legal experts have pointed out that targeting civilian infrastructure is considered a war crime under international law.
Yasmine Taeb, legislative and political director for the advocacy group MPower Change Action Fund, called Trump’s threats “horrific,” “pure evil,” and “disqualifying,” describing his words as “the words of a deranged, unstable madman.” She called for a stronger reaction from US lawmakers and the international community.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump an “extremely sick person” and wrote on X, “Each Republican who refuses to join us in voting against this wanton war of choice owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged Republican lawmakers to “put patriotic duty over party and stop the madness,” warning that Trump could “plunge us into World War III.” It is worth noting that last month, Congress failed to pass a resolution that would have limited Trump’s powers to attack Iran. Critics argue that launching this military campaign without congressional authorization violates the US Constitution, which gives Congress the power to declare war.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked to remove Trump from office, writing, “After bombing a school and massacring young girls, the war criminal in the White House is threatening genocide.” She was referring to the Minab school attack in southern Iran, which killed over 170 people. Congressman Jim McGovern stated, “This is evil. The President of the United States’ genocidal threat to commit war crimes is illegal under federal and international law.”
On the Republican side, Congressman Mike Lawler played down Trump’s threats, saying Trump would only target energy and civilian infrastructure like roads and bridges, which he said would “cripple the Iranian regime and certainly their economy.”
Lawler also argued that Trump is acting “within his legal authorities to conduct this war” as commander-in-chief. Newsom has also pushed back on other Trump decisions, including his baffling demand to reopen Alcatraz as a federal prison, which left many observers stunned.
Meanwhile, Trump has also been attacking Newsom personally, repeatedly claiming that the California governor cannot be president because of his “learning disability.” Newsom has been open about his dyslexia, a common condition affecting roughly 20% of the population that has no connection to intelligence, according to the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity.
According to CNN, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “We have a low-IQ person, you know, because Gavin Newscum has admitted that he is a – that he has learning disabilities,” and added, “Everything about him is dumb.” This was at least the fourth time in less than a week that Trump made such remarks.
Newsom’s press office responded by saying “Grandpa’s talking about himself again,” and Newsom himself wrote on X, “I spoke about my dyslexia. I know that’s hard for a brain-dead moron who bombs children and protects pedophiles to understand.”
In his recently released memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, Newsom writes about being diagnosed with dyslexia and even describes it as a “superpower,” saying, “It’s turned out to be a blessing, and in politics, a huge blessing.” Trump’s attacks on Newsom have not been limited to this issue either, he has also made an embarrassing public blunder about Newsom that drew widespread ridicule.
Published: Apr 8, 2026 06:47 am