Tennessee conductor fired after telling July 4 passengers America is greatest country, critics should ‘leave’
Jack Peterson says he stands by his comments, calling his dismissal unjust and questioning what the country has come to
A Tennessee transit agency apologized and fired a part-time railway conductor after video spread online showing him celebrating Independence Day by calling the United States “the greatest country on the face of the planet” and telling anyone who disagreed they could leave.
Local ABC affiliate WTVC NewsChannel 9 reported Monday that the part-time conductor was fired after a TikTok video posted by Nathan Scherer captured him saying, “To the very, very few Americans in here, happy Independence Day. To the rest of you, welcome to the greatest country on the face of the planet, and if you disagree, you can leave.”
In the video, a person can be heard responding, “Shut up.” The part-time conductor was identified as Jack Peterson.
The Incline Railway, which first opened in 1887, is owned and operated by the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) and is a part of Lookout Mountain Attractions, was given the video and News 9 reported that a director at the Incline Railway “met with the employee that day and immediately fired him.”
In a statement shared by News 9, the company confirmed Peterson’s dismissal.
Scott Wilson, CARTA’s chief of staff, was quoted as saying, “I want to apologize directly to the passengers who experienced this, and to everyone who has seen the video and felt its sting. It should never have happened.”