Drexel University professor George Ciccariello-Maher, who recently said he felt like "vomiting" after witnessing a fellow passenger aboard his flight give up a first-class seat to a uniformed soldier, walked back his comments on Thursday, saying he is "all for generous gestures devoted towards those who most deserve them in our society."
"Some guy gave up his first class seat for a uniformed soldier. People are thanking him. I'm trying not to vomit or yell about Mosul," Ciccariello-Maher, an associate professor in Drexel's history and politics department, tweeted on Sunday.
The comment received significant backlash, and Ciccariello-Maher appeared on Fox News with host Tucker Carlson to discuss his controversial tweet.
The professor first castigated those who support U.S. military interventions.
"I think it's really irresponsible to blindly support, for example, wars that send off young people into combat, risk their lives, kill many others ... and to not do that in a way that expands anyone's freedom, makes anyone less secure," Ciccariello-Maher said.
He added that soldiers do not need "symbolic gestures" like first-class seats but better health care and psychological support.
Carlson pushed Ciccariello-Maher on the issue, asking why he is directing his anger at soldiers who risk their lives rather than policymakers who send them into war.
The professor said he supports "generous gestures" towards those who deserve them and has "the deepest respect for anyone who, particularly for economic reasons, makes difficult decisions, whether its joining the military, whether its other dangerous work that has to take place in our society."
"And I think these people all deserve better. They deserve to not have to join the military if they would rather just get an education instead," Ciccariello-Maher continued.
"OK, but he did [join the military]," Carlson interjected. "He doesn't have a government-subsidized job at a university like you. So why does that make you mad?"