Randy Fine Faces Resignation Calls Over Islamophobic Social Media Post

Washington D.C. – A Republican congressman is facing mounting calls for his resignation after posting a social media message suggesting a preference for dogs over Muslims. Representative Randy Fine of Florida sparked widespread condemnation with the Sunday post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one,” Fine wrote, according to screenshots circulating widely online and reported by NBC News. He followed up with a post featuring Nerdeen Kiswani, co-founder of the pro-Palestinian group “Within Our Lifetime,” and a previous statement by Kiswani calling dogs “unclean” and suggesting “NYC is coming to Islam.”

Kiswani subsequently told NBC News that her original comment was made satirically, responding to comments made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in her 2024 book about shooting her dog. She accused Fine of engaging in a “documented pattern of dehumanizing Palestinians and Muslims,” adding that similar rhetoric from elected officials often lacks accountability.

The post immediately drew criticism from across the political spectrum. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a statement demanding Fine’s resignation, citing previous condemnations of his comments regarding Gaza and Hamas. CAIR argued that congressional leaders should demand his removal, calling it “long overdue.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, labeled Fine “an Islamophobic, disgusting and unrepentant bigot.” Jeffries further criticized Republican leadership for remaining silent, accusing them of enabling “hateful and divisive language” and warning of a rise in political violence, xenophobia, and hate crimes against the Muslim community.

Other Democratic representatives joined the chorus of condemnation. Robert Garcia of California called the post “disgusting Islamophobia and dangerous bigotry,” advocating for Fine’s removal from committee assignments. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to “reprimand him immediately,” stating that Fine had “repeatedly dehumanized Muslims without consequence.”

The backlash extended beyond Capitol Hill. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, responded directly to Fine on X, writing, “Resign now, you racist slob.”

Fine, who was endorsed by former President Trump in the November 2024 elections when he was a State Senator in Florida, has doubled down on his position. In a Tuesday interview with the conservative media outlet Newsmax, he reiterated that his initial post was a response to Kiswani’s comment about dogs, stating, “If they’re going to make us choose between our dogs and them going home, the choice is easy.” He has also repeatedly shared images of dogs with the slogan “Don’t Tread On Me,” invoking imagery from the American Revolutionary War.

The controversy comes as tensions remain high surrounding the conflict in Gaza. Fine is a staunch supporter of Israel and has previously defended the country’s actions during its war with Hamas. He faced prior criticism, including from former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, for a last year’s post suggesting that Gazans should “starve away” until Hamas released Israeli hostages.

As of Tuesday, neither Fine’s office nor the office of Speaker Johnson had responded to requests for comment from NBC News. The incident underscores the increasingly polarized political climate in the United States and the challenges of navigating sensitive issues related to religion, identity, and international conflict. The calls for Fine’s resignation raise questions about the boundaries of acceptable discourse in American politics and the responsibility of elected officials to avoid inflammatory rhetoric.

The situation also highlights the complexities of online communication and the potential for misinterpretation and escalation. Kiswani’s initial comment, intended as satire, was used by Fine to justify a broader generalization about Muslims, prompting a wave of outrage and accusations of bigotry. The exchange underscores the need for careful consideration of context and intent in online interactions, particularly when dealing with sensitive and potentially divisive topics.