Dem Lawmaker Clashes with Fox News Host Over Claims Iranians Support Trump's Genocidal Threat

Rep. Ro Khanna disputes Fox News host Martha MacCallum's assertion that Iranians broadly back President Trump's dire warning to Iran.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:35pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty government office space, with warm sunlight streaming in through the windows and deep shadows cast across the room, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of political decision-making.As partisan tensions over foreign policy escalate, the U.S. government's approach to global challenges faces renewed scrutiny.NYC Today

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) engaged in a heated exchange with Fox News host Martha MacCallum after she claimed that Iranians broadly support President Trump's recent genocidal threat against Iran. Khanna argued that Trump's comments have strayed from his initial objectives for engaging with Iran and that America should not make such destructive threats that go against American values.

Why it matters

This confrontation highlights the ongoing political tensions and differing perspectives around U.S. foreign policy toward Iran. It also raises questions about the accuracy of claims made by media figures regarding the views of the Iranian people.

The details

During the Fox News segment, Khanna pushed back on MacCallum's assertion that she has spoken to many Iranian activists who support Trump's threat to destroy Iran. Khanna argued that threatening genocide to get Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz is not an appropriate negotiation tactic for the U.S. president, stating 'This is not a New York real estate deal; he's the president of the United States.'

  • On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Rep. Ro Khanna appeared on Fox News to discuss President Trump's recent threat against Iran.

The players

Rep. Ro Khanna

A Democratic Congressman representing California's 17th district.

Martha MacCallum

A Fox News host who claimed Iranian activists support President Trump's genocidal threat against Iran.

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who posted a threat on Truth Social to destroy Iran if they did not agree to his negotiation terms by 8 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday.

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What they’re saying

“You don't have to threaten genocide to get Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz. We've lost the plot here... The president said he wanted to free the Iranian people, and now he's talking about destroying them.”

— Rep. Ro Khanna, U.S. Congressman

“I've spoken with a lot of Iranian activists who want this.”

— Martha MacCallum, Fox News Host

“This is not a New York real estate deal; he's the president of the United States.”

— Rep. Ro Khanna, U.S. Congressman

What’s next

The confrontation between Khanna and MacCallum highlights the ongoing political debate around U.S. foreign policy toward Iran. It remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond to Trump's latest inflammatory rhetoric and whether it will impact future negotiations with Iran.

The takeaway

This exchange underscores the deep partisan divides over how to approach Iran and the importance of fact-checking claims made by media figures, even those with significant political influence. It also raises concerns about the use of inflammatory, genocidal language by U.S. leaders, which can undermine America's moral standing and diplomatic efforts.