Congressman Khanna Faces Angry Constituents Over Iran Policy

Khanna's town hall in Milpitas, CA turns heated as Iranian-American residents demand action against the Iranian government.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat representing California's 17th district, faced a hostile crowd of his constituents during a town hall meeting in Milpitas, CA. The main issue raised by the audience was Khanna's stance on Iran, with many Iranian-American residents in attendance calling for targeted attacks against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the country's leadership.

Why it matters

The town hall highlights the deep divisions within Khanna's district over foreign policy, particularly towards Iran. As a prominent progressive Democrat, Khanna's reluctance to support military action against Iran has angered many in the local Iranian-American community, who feel the US should take a harder line. This clash underscores the challenge lawmakers face in balancing constituent concerns with their own policy positions.

The details

According to the report, around 80% of the audience stood up when Khanna asked who was there to discuss issues related to Iran, the IRGC, and the Iranian government. The author, who describes themselves as an "undercover Republican", also stood up with the majority of the crowd. Khanna typically holds town halls on weekends, but this particular event took place on a weekday, which the author found unusual.

  • The town hall meeting took place on February 21, 2026.

The players

Congressman Ro Khanna

A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing California's 17th congressional district which includes parts of the Silicon Valley region.

Iranian-American residents

A significant portion of Khanna's constituents in Milpitas, CA who are of Iranian descent and expressed anger over his stance on Iran during the town hall meeting.

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What they’re saying

“Khanna led off the town Town Hall with the Epstein files, which was a shock to me evoking Thomas Massey, Lauren Boebert, and Marjorie Taylor Greene as people who have come across the aisle on this topic.”

— The author (substack.com)

“There was lots of signage and picket signs in the audience and you could feel the electricity in the air, this wasn't was I expecting, but I should have known.”

— The author (substack.com)

What’s next

The article does not mention any clear next steps or future newsworthy events related to this story.

The takeaway

This town hall meeting highlights the deep divisions within Congressman Khanna's district over foreign policy, particularly towards Iran. The strong reaction from Iranian-American constituents demanding a harder line against the Iranian government underscores the challenge lawmakers face in balancing their own policy positions with the concerns of their diverse local communities.