An adjunct professor from Georgetown University has been caught on video calling conservative black Americans “coons” and complaining he works with “stupid white people.”
It is Jonathan Franklin, who is scheduled to teach a class on sourcing and interview tech at the school, and is a former NPR correspondent, who was caught on hidden camera by James O’Keefe, whose report reveals Franklin believed he was on a date with the undercover journalist.
The recording reveals Franklin calling U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, the “biggest coon of them all.”
CAUGHT ON HIDDEN CAMERA: Georgetown Professor Caught on Hidden Camera Calling Black Conservatives “Coons” & Saying He “Works With Stupid White People” on undercover date with James O’Keefe.
“Candace Owens? Another coon.”
“I work with stupid white people.”
“I’d have to stop… pic.twitter.com/Nae9Fn5Oem
— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) December 10, 2025
O’Keefe reported the comments: “Candace Owens? Another coon.” “I work with stupid white people.” “I’d have to stop being a reporter to say what I really think.”
O’Keefe reported, “Jonathan Franklin, a current University adjunct professor & former NPR correspondent who built his career on issues of race, culture, & justice, was recorded making openly racist remarks during an undercover date with James O’Keefe. Franklin, scheduled to teach a Georgetown course on interviewing & sourcing, labeled Black conservatives such as Candace Owens, Lawrence Jones, & Clarence Thomas as ‘coons,’ & mocked his colleagues, saying he ‘works with stupid white people.’ He also falsely claimed he was a national correspondent for CBS, a claim he later admitted was untrue. During the confrontation, Franklin attempted to assault an OMG cameraman before fleeing. Georgetown University records confirm Franklin is currently teaching students how to ‘interview sources effectively,’ even as he privately uses racial slurs and expresses biases fundamentally incompatible with journalistic ethics.”
A Post-Millennial report explained, “While undercover, O’Keefe pressed Franklin to share his views publicly, and Franklin responded that he would need to stop being a journalist to say what he ‘really want[s] to say.’”
O’Keefe explained who he was, and, the report said, “When Franklin realized the situation, he attempted to flee and at one point, tried to assault a cameraman with O’Keefe Media Group. Franklin also fell to the ground while running.”
