In a chilling message to Iran during a Jan. 20, 2026, interview, President Donald Trump stated that Iran would face destruction if its government continues to threaten him. This statement heightens already tense relations between the U.S. and Iran amidst a period of increased regional volatility.
Trump delivered this statement from the Oval Office during an appearance on Katie Pavlich Tonight on NewsNation. He informed the audience that a military response is already in place, ready to obliterate Iran if any harm comes to him. The interview aired on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 10 p.m. EST.
In a preview clip from his Tuesday night interview, Trump was asked how he reacted to what Pavlich characterized as taunts and threats from Iranian leaders directed at the president. “Well, they shouldn’t be doing it, but I’ve left notification that if anything ever happens, the whole country’s going to get blown up,” Trump said.
These comments stand as some of the most explicit threats that the president has made against the Islamic Republic since his return to office.
The interview was conducted by Katie Pavlich, a conservative commentator who launched her show, Katie Pavlich Tonight, on Monday. She had a long tenure of over a decade at Fox News, where she appeared on programs with Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and The Five, before joining NewsNation.
These warnings from Trump come amidst a long history of hostility between the U.S. and Iran, partly fueled by the 2020 assassination of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, ordered during Trump’s first term. The impact of this strike continues to echo in U.S.-Iran relations, with Iran repeatedly promising revenge for the general’s death.
Trump has faced several domestic threats. In July 2024, he was the target of an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Later that year, on September 15, an armed incident occurred at Trump’s golf course in Florida. While U.S. intelligence agencies maintain that Iranian threats against the president and other American officials endure, there is no public confirmation of Iran’s involvement in these particular incidents.
In the interview, Trump criticized former President Joe Biden’s response to Iranian threats, implying that Biden did not respond strongly enough to Tehran’s hostile words.
Iranian leaders have not been silent either. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have both warned that any assault on Iran’s leadership would elicit a significant response. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned that a U.S. military operation would be met without restraint, citing the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June 2025 as proof of Iran’s ability to withstand prolonged conflict.
The Iran-Israel conflict in June 2025 marked a substantial increase in Middle Eastern tensions, leading to regional powers’ involvement and prompting the U.S. to send an aircraft carrier to the area. This move highlighted Washington’s ongoing military presence in the region and its readiness to react to threats against its interests and allies.
When asked about the Minneapolis, Minnesota protests related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, Trump stated he was not yet ready to invoke the Insurrection Act. The protests discussed in the interview were sparked by the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE on Jan. 7, leading to widespread demonstrations and a renewed examination of federal immigration enforcement methods.
Trump indicated that the Insurrection Act, which allows presidents to deploy military forces domestically to quell civil disorder, rebellion, or insurrection, could still be an option for future use. Its invocation would mark a significant escalation in the federal response to domestic unrest and is typically reserved for extraordinary circumstances.
During the comprehensive discussion covering both foreign and domestic policy priorities, Trump also criticized former CNN host Don Lemon and Minnesota Congress Rep. Ilhan Omar. The interview format allowed Trump to present his administration’s positions to the viewers directly, bypassing the usual channels of news conferences or official White House statements.
For Pavlich, securing a presidential interview in her first week at NewsNation was a notable achievement. After leaving Fox News, where she had established connections with conservative audiences and Republican officials, this interview underscored her continued access to high-profile newsmakers. NewsNation is positioning itself as an alternative to traditional cable news outlets.
The intensifying rhetoric between Washington and Tehran raises questions about whether either party intends to act on its threats or if these public warnings mainly serve as deterrence. Both the U.S. and Iran face domestic political pressures to appear strong while avoiding a direct military confrontation that could ignite a wider regional war.
Trump’s strategy towards Iran seems to reflect the maximum pressure campaign he employed during his first presidency, blending economic sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and military threats. It remains uncertain whether this strategy will be more effective in restraining Iran than previous tactics, especially in light of Iran’s demonstrated readiness to engage in proxy conflicts and its ongoing development of regional influence.
