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Republican Congressman Randy Fine sparked widespread condemnation this week after posting on X, formerly Twitter, that “the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.” The comment, made in response to a post by Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani regarding Islamic views on keeping dogs as indoor pets, quickly circulated online and drew calls for his resignation.
Kiswani’s original post reflected a religious and cultural perspective that considers dogs “unclean” within certain Islamic traditions. Fine’s reply, however, was interpreted by many as an explicitly anti-Muslim statement. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna was among those who publicly responded, criticizing the post as unacceptable. Media figures including Megyn Kelly and CNN’s Jake Tapper also weighed in on the controversy.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a statement demanding Fine’s resignation, characterizing his remarks as hateful and Islamophobic. According to a statement reported by Florida Politics, CAIR asserted that Fine’s comments were “deeply offensive” and contributed to a climate of anti-Muslim bigotry. TRT World described Fine as a “racist slob” and a “modern Klansman” in its coverage of the incident.
Fine, who represents Florida’s 6th congressional district, won a special election in April 2025 to fill the seat vacated by Mike Waltz. He previously served multiple terms in the Florida House of Representatives before being elected to the state Senate in 2024. He currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs and Education committees.
The congressman is known for his staunchly pro-Israel stance and frequently utilizes social media to express his views on both foreign policy and cultural issues. The exchange with Kiswani also brought renewed attention to her activism and her support for New York assembly member Zohran Mamdani, linking the incident to broader political debates surrounding US policy toward Gaza and the Middle East.
As of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Congressman Fine has not issued a retraction or apology for his statement. His office has not responded to requests for comment regarding the calls for his resignation. The House Ethics Committee has not announced any investigation into the matter.
