Camilla Jessen
The US cities experts say could be first in a nuclear war.
Concern about World War III is growing as conflicts in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia continue to escalate.
While President Donald Trump campaigned on keeping US troops out of foreign wars, recent actions abroad have unsettled allies and adversaries alike.
Trump’s moves involving Venezuela, Iran and Greenland have added to anxiety about potential military escalation. Traditional rivals such as Russia and China remain central to those fears.
Many Americans are now considering what a large-scale war, particularly a nuclear one, could look like at home.
Expert assessment
Professor Alex Wellerstein, a nuclear historian at the Stevens Institute of Technology, has previously discussed how an attack on the US might unfold. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he explained how targets would vary by attacker.
“If the adversary is Russia and their goal is to disable US retaliation, command centers and ICBM sites will be hit first,” Wellerstein said. “If the attacker is a rogue actor, symbolic or densely populated areas might be targeted instead.”
That logic underpins a list of 15 cities he identified as potential early targets.
Military-linked cities
Several smaller cities appear on the list because of their proximity to nuclear infrastructure.
Great Falls, Montana, sits near Malmstrom Air Force Base, which oversees hundreds of missile silos.
Cheyenne, Wyoming, is home to Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, a key control center for nuclear missile operations.
Ogden and Clearfield, Utah, are close to Hill Air Force Base, another major nuclear weapons hub.
Shreveport, Louisiana, lies near B-52 bomber bases, while Omaha, Nebraska, neighbors Offutt Air Force Base, central to US nuclear command.
Strategic hubs
Honolulu, Hawaii, is also a target due to its concentration of naval and air forces.
Colorado Springs, Colorado, hosts NORAD, responsible for defending North American airspace.
Albuquerque, New Mexico, is home to Kirtland Air Force Base and one of the continent’s largest nuclear arsenals.
The largest city in Washington State, Seattle, is a target because of its proximity to Naval Base Kitsap and its role as a major port.
Washington, DC, stands out as a political and symbolic center of power.
Population centers
Other cities are listed not for military reasons, but for their influence and size.
These include major cultural hubs and tourist destinations such as San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.
In such scenarios, experts say that population density alone could make them potential targets.
Sources: Daily Mail, Stevens Institute of Technology
