Rep. Randy Fine Draws Bipartisan Backlash After Anti‑Muslim Post on X

Rep. Randy Fine (R‑FL) is facing widespread bipartisan condemnation after replying to a post on X with an Islamophobic remark that read, 'If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.' The comment, which targeted Muslims broadly, prompted calls for reprimand and resignation from elected officials and public commentators across the political spectrum.

Fine's reply was directed at Palestinian‑American activist Nerdeen Kiswani, who had written that dogs "definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets" and called them "unclean." While the Quran does not explicitly label dogs as unclean, some Muslims avoid close contact with dogs because certain hadiths attributed to the Prophet Muhammad describe dog saliva as ritually impure and require washing if it touches a believer.

Swift Political and Public Reaction

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) responded bluntly on X, demanding that Fine "Resign now, you racist slob." Fine replied that "Islam is not a race, moron. It is a religion," and defended his critique by accusing some New York Muslim leaders of calling for the "abolition of dogs."

Democratic members of Congress urged action. Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D‑AZ) wrote that Fine's comments would cost someone their job in most workplaces and urged House Speaker Mike Johnson (R‑LA) to reprimand him, adding that Fine should resign if he cannot meet "the most basic standard of human dignity." Rep. Brendan Boyle (D‑PA) likewise called Fine "an ugly bigot" who "should not be in Congress."

"Randy Fine has repeatedly dehumanized Muslims without consequence. It's unacceptable and should not be normalized by Congress. @SpeakerJohnson should reprimand him immediately. And if Fine cannot meet the most basic standard of human dignity, he should resign." — Rep. Yassamin Ansari

Commentators and public figures also weighed in. Podcaster Megyn Kelly retweeted Fine's post with the response, "wtf is this." Mark Mitchell, a pollster at Rasmussen Reports, warned the GOP that the post was "not a good look." Far‑right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos called Fine "a man of low moral character, unfit to hold public office," while Mediaite senior editor Isaac Schorr described him as "an appalling embarrassment to his family and anchor tied around the ankles of his cause."

Context And Past Controversy

Fine has faced prior calls to resign over hostile remarks toward Muslims and Palestinians. In recent days he wrote that "Palestinian is a synonym for evil" and labeled New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) "Jihadi Mamdani," blaming him for a rise in "Muslim terror happening across New York City." Fine also demanded that the mayor be "DENATURALIZE AND DEPORT HIM NOW," further escalating concerns about his rhetoric.

The incident has prompted renewed discussion about congressional conduct and the consequences for elected officials who use dehumanizing language toward religious or ethnic groups. The original story reporting this episode first appeared on Mediaite.