A conductor at Tennessee’s famed Incline Railway was fired for his viral Independence Day speech to tourists who were left disgusted by the controversial patriotic message.

Jack Peterson, the now-sacked operator at the 131-year-old attraction up to Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tenn., wished his American passengers a Happy Independence Day before welcoming foreigners to the rail system.

“To the very, very few Americans in here, Happy Independence Day,” Peterson told his passengers, according to a TikTok video.

Passengers aboard the Incline Railway listen as conductor Jack Peterson makes an Independence Day message during the descent from Lookout Mountain.natescherer/TikTok
Riders groaned at the short speech while one man demanded the conductor “shut up” as the train descended one of the world’s steepest passenger railways.

“To the rest of you, welcome to the greatest country on the face of the planet, and if you disagree, you can leave,” he said.

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The rail cart was quiet as riders processed the announcement Peterson had just made over the speakers.

Passenger Nathan Scherer, who was on vacation with his family including his father Charles, posted the clip that had been viewed over 530,000 times, tagging Peterson’s speech under the “racism” and “xenophobia” hashtags.

Scherer reported Peterson, a part-time worker, to the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), the operator of the Incline.

“It just really upset me, the whole time riding down,” Charles Scherer told WTVC’s Katie Glanton. “And I kept thinking ‘the company needs to know about this because he was the only one representing the company and I just had a feeling that they don’t know that he is saying this.

“I wanted to make sure that we didn’t have any problems with the Incline, we just really had a problem that you should be aware that he’s making comments like that,” the older Scherer said, revealing he was left embarrassed because his granddaughter was on the ride.

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Riders groaned at the short speech while one man demanded the conductor “shut up” as the train descended one of the world’s steepest passenger railways.natescherer/TikTok
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The Incline Railway car going to Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tenn.UCG
Peterson defended his actions, saying he did not intend for his message to be taken negatively.

“I’m very patriotic; it was the USA’s Independence Day. I was celebrating with my fellow Americans (native or non-native),” Peterson told the outlet.

“I truly do believe we are the greatest country on earth. My statement about if you dont like the country and dont believe we are the best then you can leave is a freedom of the USA that many other countries do not have. It is not a racist or xenophobic thing to say. If you dont believe in making this country better then why are you here?” he said.

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CARTA officials revealed Peterson was immediately fired after his supervisor talked to him following the report being made.

“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,” Scott Wilson, CARTA’s chief of staff, told WTVC.

“We have zero tolerance for language that demeans or excludes anyone who rides with us,” Wilson said. “For 131 years, the Incline Railway has welcomed visitors from Chattanooga and from around the world. Every passenger who boards our railway deserves to feel respected and welcome, and we are committed to making sure that is always the case.”