A Georgetown University professor is facing fierce backlash after calling for Iran to launch strikes against American military forces.
The remarks have sparked widespread calls for his firing and prompting a sharp response from conservatives, military families, and elected officials.
Dr. Jonathan Brown, who holds the Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, posted a shocking message on X after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. military had destroyed three Iranian nuclear facilities in a precision airstrike.
“I’m not an expert, but I assume Iran could still get a bomb easily,” Brown wrote.
“I hope Iran does some symbolic strike on a base, then everyone stops.”
Brown’s now-deleted post went even further, appearing to mock American supporters of Israel and express admiration for Iran’s military capabilities:
“I’m surprised this is what these FDD/Hasbara people have been auto-erotically asphyxiating themselves for all these years,” he wrote.
“1) Iran can take a licking; 2) if Israel attacks Iranian cities, it gets f***ed up pretty bad. I mean I’ve been shocked at the damage Iranian missiles caused.”
He then bizarrely joked: “3) despite his best efforts, Reza Pahlavi HVAC repair services still only third best in Nova.”
The reference to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD), a think tank that focuses on national security and pro-Israel policies, did not go unnoticed, nor did his apparent cheering of Iranian missile strikes, which have put both U.S. soldiers and Israeli civilians in harm’s way.
The backlash was swift and unequivocal.
“Are you kidding me?” former ESPN anchor Sage Steele posted in response.
“A ‘Professor of Islamic Civilization’ at @Georgetown ‘hopes Iran does some symbolic strike’ on Americans,” wrote GOP Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL).
“Some civilization,” he continued.
“The President of Georgetown will be before @EdWorkforceCmte soon.
“This demon had better be gone by then.
“We have a Muslim problem in America.”
A "Professor of Islamic Civilization" at @Georgetown "hopes Iran does some symbolic strike" on Americans.
Some civilization.
The President of Georgetown will be before @EdWorkforceCmte soon.
This demon had better be gone by then.
We have a Muslim problem in America. https://t.co/YtUIDiUg9h
— Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) June 22, 2025
Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, added:
“A Georgetown professor wants Iran to attack a US base.”
He went on to detail Brown’s family connections, including his wife, Laila Al-Arian, a journalist for Al Jazeera, which has long been accused of being a mouthpiece for Islamist propaganda.
Laila’s father, Sami Al-Arian, was deported from the U.S. after pleading guilty to supporting Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a designated terrorist organization backed by Iran.
A 2006 Department of Justice release stated Al-Arian admitted to assisting the terror group after knowing it used violence to achieve its goals.
“This is who’s teaching your kids,” conservative activist Laura Loomer posted.
“@Georgetown should fire him.”
Dr. Sara Yael Hirschhorn, a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, wrote:
“I’m appalled to see him calling for Iran to attack U.S. troops and his awe at attacks on Israeli civilians. @Georgetown – enough!”
Brown later tried to walk back his post, writing on Monday:
“I deleted my previous tweet because a lot of people were interpreting it as a call for violence.
“That’s not what I intended.”
He continued, claiming to have “two immediate family members in the US military” and insisting he would “not want any harm to befall American soldiers… or anyone!”
I deleted my previous tweet because a lot of people were interpreting it as a call for violence. That’s not what I intended. I have two immediate family members in the US military who’ve served abroad and wouldn’t want any harm to befall American soldiers… or anyone!
— Jonathan AC Brown (@JonathanACBrown) June 23, 2025
Speaking to Fox News, Brown attempted to justify the message:
“I meant something like right after Soleimani was killed, with telegraphed warning and no American casualties, and no one felt any further need for attacks.”
“I was calling for de-escalation as I am very opposed to American involvement in foreign wars.”
Georgetown University tried to distance itself from the controversy:
“We are appalled that a faculty member would call for a ‘symbolic strike’ on a military base in a social media post,” a university spokesperson said in a statement.
“The original statement is from an individual faculty member and not the University, and the faculty member has since deleted the post and stated that he would not want any harm to befall American servicemembers.
“We are reviewing this matter to see if further action is warranted.”
President Donald Trump, who ordered the strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities, made clear that America will not tolerate aggression from Tehran, nor hesitation in protecting U.S. interests abroad.
In a bold Truth Social post on Saturday night, Trump declared:
“Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.
“And Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace.
“If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.”
No leaks. No warning. Just action and results.
While President Trump was busy defending America’s interests and protecting our troops and allies, an elite professor at a prestigious university was openly daydreaming about symbolic attacks on U.S. military bases.
From classrooms to combat zones, the contrast couldn’t be clearer: Trump is putting America First, while too many in the academic Left seem more interested in sympathizing with Iranian missile strikes than standing by our troops.
READ MORE – White House Slams CNN for Peddling ‘Fake News’ on Iran Strikes
