Republican congressman’s anti-Muslim remark prompts calls for his resignation

Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., prompted calls for his resignation from Democrats and a major Islamic civil rights group after suggesting in a social media post that he’d choose dogs over Muslims.

“If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one,” Fine posted to the social media platform X on Sunday. Shortly afterward, he added a photo of a post from Nerdeen Kiswani, the co-founder of the pro-Palestinian group “Within Our Lifetime,” in which she called dogs “unclean” and said that “NYC is coming to Islam.”

“For context, this is the leader of one of the key mainstream Muslim groups that supported Mamdani,” Fine wrote, referring to Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s new mayor.

Fine’s initial post sparked a parade of criticism and a handful of calls for him to resign.

In a statement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations pointed to its previous condemnation’s of Fine’s past comments on Gaza and Hamas, adding that “leaders of Congress across the political spectrum should demand his resignation, which is long overdue.”

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., called the post “disgusting Islamophobia and dangerous bigotry,” adding that “he should be forced to resign” after his committee assignments are stripped from him.

Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., called for House Speaker Mike Johnson to “reprimand him immediately,” adding that he’s “repeatedly dehumanized Muslims without consequence.”

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to Fine on X, writing, “Resign now, you racist slob.”

Kiswani replied to her own message from two days earlier by evoking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s comments in her 2024 book about killing a dog on her farm.

“Kristi Noem literally bragged about shooting her own dog and most of you did not bat an eyelash. A Muslim in NYC says maybe the city is not the best place for pets and it is days of death threats from MAGA and Zionists,” she wrote.

NBC News has reached out to Fine’s office for comment.

Fine hasn’t balked amid the criticism. In response, he repeatedly posted images on X of dogs on a bright yellow background over the words “Don’t Tread On Me,” styled to resemble the Gadsen flag, iconography that dates back to the Revolutionary War. He replied to a critical message from broadcaster Piers Morgan by writing that “what is disgusting is a major NYC Muslim leader saying we must give up our dogs because ‘NYC is coming to Islam.'”

“We will not be shamed into being conquered like the Europeans,” Fine added.

The Republican congressman, who took office less than a year ago in a special election, is an ardent supporter of Israel who has repeatedly defended the country’s conduct during its war with Hamas in Gaza. He also faced criticism, including from then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., for posting on X last year that until Hamas released Israeli hostages, Gazans should “starve away.”