Florida Republican Rep. Randy Fine sparked a national political firestorm on Sunday after posting a highly inflammatory message on X, writing that "if they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one." The remark - widely condemned as Islamophobic and dehumanising - drew immediate, bipartisan denunciations and a surge of calls for his resignation from both lawmakers and civil rights organisations.
Fine's comment, made in response to a satirical social media post, was blasted by Democratic lawmakers and civil rights leaders. California Rep. Ro Khanna labelled the remark "disgusting bigotry" and insisted Fine be censured as a matter of morality and decency.
Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari said Fine "has repeatedly dehumanised Muslims without consequence," urging House leadership to reprimand him. At the same time, California Gov. Gavin Newsom demanded that Fine should "resign now," calling him a "racist."
Civil rights groups also weighed in. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged congressional leaders of both parties to condemn Fine's remarks and take action, describing the rhetoric as dehumanising and linking it to a pattern of anti-Muslim policies and statements the lawmaker has made in recent years. CAIR's leadership blasted Fine as a "modern Klansman and Nazi all wrapped into one" (targeting Muslims instead of other groups). They pointed out that Fine has repeatedly pushed anti-Muslim policies (a "Muslim travel ban," citizenship revocations, mass deportations) and has praised violence against Palestinians.
Calls for accountability extended across the aisle. Democratic figures, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, called Fine's post "one of the most disgusting statements" ever made by a US official, and said he should be censured and stripped of committee assignments. The silence from House Republican leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, has drawn further criticism as pressure mounts for disciplinary action.
Jewish activist Cameron Kasky also weighed in, writing on X, "Imagine if an American politician said this about Jews," underscoring how condemnation of the remark has crossed faith and community lines.
When pressed on whether he would delete the post, Fine refused to back down, reposting images of dogs with a "Don't Tread On Me" slogan and telling supporters he would not "be shamed" into removing the message, a move that many observers say only fuels the controversy.
Dozens of US lawmakers from both parties have since urged that Fine step down. Some, including Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), have questioned whether Johnson - as a Christian leader - has an obligation to speak out against the hateful language.
This tweet fits a pattern. The congressman, elected in April 2025, has previously baselessly attacked New York's Muslim mayor and tweeted that "Palestinian is a synonym for evil". He has touted genocide in Gaza as a solution, and once wrote, "the Palestinian cause is an evil one... We nuked the Japanese twice". In Congress and as a Florida legislator, he has repeatedly pushed for anti-Muslim policies, from travel bans to mass deportations of legal immigrants.
The episode has put renewed spotlight on the broader issue of anti-Muslim sentiment in American society and politics, a long-standing concern among civil rights advocates who note that hate crimes and discriminatory rhetoric against Muslims have persisted in the post-9/11 era and intensified in recent years on social platforms. Surveys find that 62% of American Muslims report daily discrimination or hostility because of their faith. Critics argue that such rhetoric from a sitting member of Congress not only marginalises Muslim Americans but also undermines American democratic norms of pluralism and inclusion.
The story also puts a spotlight on US politics ahead of the 2026 midterms. It raises questions about how both parties handle hate speech by their own members. House Republicans - who earlier faced criticism over Islamophobic language from some colleagues - have so far been silent. As of Tuesday, House leadership had announced no action against Fine even as calls for accountability mounted from across the aisle.