Leavitt Refutes Story About Possible Iranian Drones Striking California
Iran Doesn’t Need Drones to Hit California—Sacramento’s Already Done the Job.
***Portion added by Mary Chastain at 12:24 PM ET
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt refuted the ABC News story claiming that the FBI warned California about possible strikes from Iranian drones:
This post and story should be immediately retracted by ABC News for providing false information to intentionally alarm the American people.
They wrote this based on one email that was sent to local law enforcement in California about a single, unverified tip. The email even states the tip was based on *unverified* intelligence. Yet ABC News left out this critical fact in their story! WHY?
TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did.
This post and story should be immediately retracted by ABC News for providing false information to intentionally alarm the American people.
They wrote this based on one email that was sent to local law enforcement in California about a single, unverified tip. The email even… https://t.co/jKey9ahsNk
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) March 12, 2026
***Original Post by Leslie
A memo issued by the FBI recently warned police departments in California that Iran could retaliate for American attacks by launching drones at the West Coast.
Tehran was looking at deploying unmanned aircraft on the region as the country reels after the US wiped out its Supreme Leader last month, the alert said.
The Bureau said in early February agents had intelligence that drones could be sent from an unidentified vessel off the American coastline.
California has the highest concentration of Iranian dissidents in the US — up to 500,000 — but it is not clear if that was why the state could be targeted.
The FBI alert said: “We recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran.”
Iran plotting revenge terror attack on California with army of drones as FBI reveals terrifying details https://t.co/l7aI85dkvQ pic.twitter.com/X7iyU7Jucw
— New York Post (@nypost) March 11, 2026
It appears that a source with knowledge of the memo indicated that the warning was issued based on intelligence received by the U.S. Coast Guard. However, currently, officials do not view that threat as credible.
The source is experienced in counterterrorism and said “that it’s not been deemed credible at this time.”
The sources stressed that the warning was cautionary and there was no indication Iran was planning an attack or that it could successfully launch one.
But the warning played into security strategies that local and national authorities enacted after the war began.
One official told The Times the memo was one of several daily updates received and distributed by law enforcement and emergency response agencies.
Experts in military tactics are doubtful that Iran could effectively launch a drone to attack a West Coast target, but they cannot discount a unit being pre-staged in the event of a US attack.
Iranian ships could theoretically get closer, but it is unlikely, as they would first have to pass near any of the many military bases the U.S. has around the world, including throughout Pacific Ocean countries and military bases in Hawaii.
Iran does not have large aircraft carrier ships like the U.S. or U.K., but reportedly utilizes the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, a converted container ship, and the IRINS Makran, a converted oil tanker, to carry and hold its drones at sea.
Both ships were reportedly damaged during strikes by U.S. military forces during Operation Epic Fury, according to the BBC.
…However, according to the ABC News report, intelligence officials have long expressed concern about Iranian equipment being pre-positioned for an attack, either on land or on ships, in the event of a U.S. or Israeli attack on Iran.
The state’s Office of Emergency Services is on alert, however.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told ABC News: “The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is actively working with state, local and federal security officials to protect our communities.”
And the LA Sheriff’s Department said that “in light of current global events” it is maintaining an “elevated level of readiness.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, and in recognition of current religious observances, the Department has continued increased patrols around places of worship, cultural institutions, and other prominent locations throughout the County,” the department said in a statement.
“We have proactively reviewed our deployment plans, enhanced coordination with our patrol stations, and ensured that additional resources are available should they be needed.”
While this is a concerning development, most Americans are not in a panic. There have also been a few wry comments directed at my state.
— Davidps23NH🇺🇸⚓🐶 (@Davidps23NH) March 11, 2026
Others have noted that with our governor’s astonishing record of failure, no Iranian weapon is needed.
— TransOdius (@TransOdius) March 11, 2026
And it appears Newsom is using this development to attack President Donald Trump…yet, again.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is blaming Donald Trump after a chilling plot by Iran to launch drone attacks on California was exposed. 🔗 https://t.co/zGBdKBu6dj pic.twitter.com/yi6xXFyugU
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) March 11, 2026
Reflecting upon this news, I will note that while the FBI memo might be more cautionary than credible, it’s a revealing snapshot of how strained global politics now intersect with domestic dysfunction.
Californians are used to living with earthquakes, wildfires, and power outages, so the prospect of Iranian drones barely registers on the Richter scale of anxiety. Still, while Newsom postures and Washington reassures, it’s the local law enforcement officers quietly doing their jobs who keep the state truly protected.
In the end, Californians don’t need Tehran’s drones to feel under siege …Sacramento’s policies have already done a remarkable job of that.
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Comments
“TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did.”
Not that it’s a bad idea, and maybe even they’re watching this.
Our intelligence is not exactly up to date. Isn’t that the excuse this admin user for bombing children?
Oh see more of your butt
Never in doubt that’s he’s always wrong
No, I think that was Obama’s excuse for bombing weddings.
What was his excuse for droning American citizens?
(Trick question. He didn’t have an excuse, it was done purposefully.)
And an irrelevant question, since said citizens were actively engaged in operations against the USA and were legitimate targets in any variation of intelligent ROE ever. No warrant required.
why did the children get in the way? lefty would say if it was an israeli school
It’s called “the fog of war.” Look it up.
Mistakes are made. Even smart weapons require unerring intel. Intel is not always unerring. It’s not “excuse,” it’s the reason why these things happen. Calling it an “excuse” implies the children were killed for some other reason, or possibly for some purpose.
You base that on the hokey video yet to be verified? Maybe on the propaganda of the Iranian regime? Perhaps it would be better to wait for final independent investigation about the alleged missile (not bomb) strike. Especially since the ‘school’ was located next to a valid target and there were separate strikes/explosions but only one US missile involved.
It seems to me an equally valid argument that what hit the school was likely Iranian counter missile efforts and then the tomahawk hit the legit target. We can’t know until an independent investigation is complete.
What DO know is that the Iranian regime placed/located legit military targets with a school. That’s not just a bad idea but a violation of the ‘rules’. The Iranian regime is the preeminent state sponsor of terrorism which is also against the ‘rules’. Any appeal to the ‘rules’ by surrogates of the Iranian regime such as yourself are laughable.
Bottom line lesson is that war/conflict isn’t neat and tidy; things go boom, people die including the relatively innocent. Provoking a war has consequences.
After carefully checking sources, the FBI can finally confirm that Japanese FU-GO balloons are heading toward California.
wellll
maybe not launched from outside the usa
but they have their omartlaib sdquds ready in the usa
ohhh and now thissss!!
An active shooter opened fire on a Michigan synagogue after reportedly crashing a car into the building.
The Michigan State Police confirmed that they are responding to Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township to an active shooter.
Officials have since said the shooter smashed a vehicle into the synagogue before letting off shots inside.
According to Sheriff Michael Bouchard security inside the synagogue ‘engaged the threat’ while adding that nobody was yet in custody.
All teachers and children in the synagogue’s early childhood center are safe and accounted for, local media reported.
And an attack on Old Dominion University (downtown Norfolk, Virginia) this morning.
“No matter the ideology of an attacker, that attacker is more dangerous with a gun than without one,” Ramin Fatehi, “Stinky” Soros appointed DA of Norfolk stated.
“First, we’ll dismantle the Bill of Rights and Constitution. Then I can get back to the joy of feasting on the bums of my moslem brothers.”
Shocker! Perp named Mohamad!
He was naturalized into a U.S. citizen in 2016 during the Kenyan O’Monkey administration.
This is -even if true- a stupid and irrational fear. Let’s say that Iran takes their largest ship that can launch drones (now that the drone carrier has been sunk) and gets within launch range of the California coast. How many drones could they launch? 10? 15? 20? That would be the maximum as it seems likely that after a few were launched some luck Air Force or Navy pilot would get his big chance to sink a ship. However if Iran did launch 20 drones, would they actually cause enough damage to stop the war? Would the damage be as much as done by the Palisades fire? For any individual in California the odds of being hit by a drone would be pretty close to those of being hit by a falling airplane and certainly less than being in an automobile crash.
not sure Iget your point
it would be as legit a fear as the blmplo street armies throwing (as they did the other day in nyc) bombs
or driving cars into places of worship/schools etc
and drones are a great low level tactical force to be reckoned with now
Politically, the Dems are hoping for a strike, damaging or not, on US soil. They would, of course, blame Trump. But if Trump has his way any damage done will be a small cost to pay to avoid a future in which Iran is nuclear capable and has ballistic missiles capable of reaching the US. What Hitler planned, the mullahs are dangerously close to accomplishing. The Dems would rather risk that than support Trump’s efforts (which is not “supporting Trump”) because they aren’t interested in America’s longer-term security, they’re only interested in gaining political power. It’s apparently OK with them if that power comes at the cost of a few large American cities and millions of people. This is the way commies play the game. Mass casualties among one’s own population has always been an acceptable by-product of their rise to power and their maintenance of same.
Plus, the democrats figure a few egg shells have to be broken to meet the UN2030 goals of reducing the world population by a third. Covid, the Fauci Virus, didn’t work as well as they and the WEF had hoped. Neither did the Fauci jab.
Regardless of location, the motto of the political Left is and has always been: Power and control, at any cost, at any price, by any means necessary. Sacrificing a few million innocent people in the process is not considered a problem or a hindrance. After all, just look back at the history of the 20th Century, when Leftist governments were very happy to sacrifice more than 100 million of their own citizens in their endless quest for more power and control.
Y’all wanna see a drone shot down? Launch it into SC, it will be down in 5 minutes tops!
See the so-so Spielberg movie 1942 for the Japanese invasion of the left coast.
Frankly Iranians drones may improve CA especially if the state government is targeted. Someone should tell them to also not ignore Oregon and Washington.
Horryrood!!!!!
(I’m glad someone made the reference!)
It would be really unfortunate if Iran’s drones were able to delay completion of the high-speed rail project.
This is typical media Scarefest malarkey. They’ve been drumming up the scare tactics about drones “changing the way of war forever” because of Ukraine for a couple of years now. And this allows them to blame Trump for that fear. Remember, “if it bleeds, it leads.” The people scared is how they get clicks/eyeballs – AND it’s how they bring down any Republicans.
(Also, evidently, someone got froggy with a drone* in south Texas recently. Remember? The US immediately shut down the airspace and shot it down.)
(* Or, we thought they did. It might have just been a balloon we shot down.)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told ABC News: “The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is actively working with state, local and federal security officials to protect our communities.”
Greaseball Newscum, always putting the American people first!
Hahahaha