Elite university professor sparks social media backlash after revealing what Iran should do next: 'This demon'

A prof astatine Georgetown University is successful blistery h2o connected societal media implicit a station wherever helium explained his "hope" for Iran doing "some symbolic strike" connected a U.S. subject base, igniting backlash connected societal media and calls for him to beryllium fired.

"I’m not an expert, but I presume Iran could inactive get a weaponry easily," Dr. Jonathan Brown, the Alwaleed bin Talal seat of Islamic Civilization successful the School of Foreign Service astatine Georgetown University, posted connected X connected Sunday aft the U.S. struck Iranian atomic sites connected Saturday night. 

"I anticipation Iran does immoderate symbolic onslaught connected a base, past everyone stops. I’m amazed this is what these FDD/Hasbara radical person been auto-erotically asphyxiating themselves for each these years. Ironically, the main takeaways (in my non-expert opinion, and I’m blessed to beryllium corrected) from each this person thing to bash with a US attack: 1) Iran tin instrumentality a licking; 2) if Israel attacks Iranian cities, it gets f---ed up beauteous bad. I mean I’ve been shocked astatine the harm Iranian missiles caused; 3) contempt his champion efforts, Reza Pahlavi HVAC repair services inactive lone 3rd champion successful Nova."

Many conservatives connected societal media instantly reacted to the station and interpreted it arsenic a assemblage prof wishing for Iran to onslaught U.S. soldiers oregon astatine slightest enactment them successful harm’s way.

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Georgetown prof Jonathan Brown sparked contention with a societal media station connected Iran. (Jonathan AC Brown via X; AP)

"Are you kidding me?" blimpish commentator Sage Steele posted connected X successful effect to the station being picked up by the blimpish influencer relationship LibsofTikTok. 

A ‘Professor of Islamic Civilization’ astatine @Georgetown ‘hopes Iran does immoderate symbolic strike’ connected Americans," GOP Rep. Randy Fine posted connected X. "Some civilization. The President of Georgetown volition beryllium earlier @EdWorkforceCmte soon. This demon had amended beryllium gone by then. We person a Muslim occupation successful America."

"A Georgetown prof wants Iran to onslaught a US base," Foundation for the Defense of Democracies CEO Mark Dubowitz posted connected X, earlier providing accusation connected the inheritance of Brown’s wife. 

"Brown is joined to Laila Al-Arian, a writer for the Muslim Brotherhood propaganda outlet Al Jazeera. Her father, Sami Al-Arian, was deported from the U.S. to Turkey. He was accused of providing worldly enactment to the US-designated and Iran-backed violent enactment Palestinian Islamic Jihad."

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White-Gravenor Hall of Georgetown University. (Getty Images)

Brown's father-in-law, Sami Al-Arian, was deported from the United States to Turkey successful 2015 aft a agelong ineligible conflict wherever helium pleaded "guilty" to supporting Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a violent organization, according to Politico. 

A 2006 Department of Justice property release said helium acknowledged "in the plea statement that helium knew the PIJ utilized acts of unit arsenic a means to execute its objectives. Nevertheless, Al-Arian continued to assistance the violent organization, for instance, by filing authoritative paperwork to get migration benefits for PIJ subordinate Bashir Nafi, and concealing the violent associations of assorted individuals associated with the PIJ."

"Al-Arian admits that helium performed services for the PIJ successful 1995 and thereafter, erstwhile helium was a prof astatine the University of South Florida and aft helium knew that the PIJ had been designated by President Clinton arsenic a violent organization," the property merchandise said.

"I went to postgraduate schoolhouse with Jonathan Brown," Jewish People Policy Institute chap Dr. Sara Yael Hirschhorn posted connected X. "I'm appalled to spot him calling for Iran to onslaught U.S. troops and his awe astatine attacks connected Israeli civilians. @Georgetown- enough!"

"These are the radical teaching your kids astatine colleges and Universities," blimpish influencer Laura Loomer posted connected X. "@Georgetown should occurrence him."

In a follow-up station connected Monday morning, Brown told his followers helium deleted the station and explained why. 

"I deleted my erstwhile tweet due to the fact that a batch of radical were interpreting it arsenic a telephone for violence," Brown posted connected X. "That’s not what I intended. I person 2 contiguous household members successful the US subject who’ve served overseas and wouldn’t privation immoderate harm to befall American soldiers… oregon anyone!"

When reached for remark connected his arguable post, Brown told Fox News Digital helium "meant thing similar close aft Solimani was killed, with telegraphed informing and nary American casualties and nary 1 felt immoderate further request for attacks."

 "I was calling for de-esclation arsenic I americium precise opposed to American engagement successful overseas wars," helium continued.

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Smoke rises from the gathering of Iran's state-run tv aft an Israeli onslaught successful Tehran, Iran, connected Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo)

A Georgetown University spokesperson told Fox News Digital the assemblage was "appalled" by the societal media post.

"We are appalled that a module subordinate would telephone for a ‘symbolic strike’ connected a subject basal successful a societal media post. The archetypal connection is from an idiosyncratic module subordinate and not the University, and the module subordinate has since deleted the station and stated that helium would not privation immoderate harm to befall American servicemembers," the spokesperson said. "We are reviewing this substance to spot if further enactment is warranted. We instrumentality our community’s concerns earnestly and condemn connection which is profoundly inconsistent with Georgetown University’s values."

President Donald Trump announced the U.S. had struck a trio of atomic facilities successful Iran via a Saturday evening Truth Social post, which was not preceded by immoderate media leaks of anterior denotation specified strikes were imminent. 

The president ordered U.S. B-2 stealth bombers to transportation retired strikes against Iran’s Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan atomic facilities.

"Iran's atomic enrichment facilities person been wholly and wholly obliterated," Trump said. "And Iran, the bully of the Middle East, indispensable present marque peace. If they bash not, aboriginal attacks would beryllium acold greater and a batch easier." 

Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this report