US Congressman Randy Fine is facing widespread backlash for comparing Muslims to dogs, drawing condemnation from lawmakers, civil rights groups, and public figures, along with calls for disciplinary action and resignation.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Fine wrote, “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one."
Fine later said the post was a response to comments by Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani, sharing a screenshot of her earlier message. He said he was reacting to what he described as calls by a Muslim leader to ban dogs in New York City.
“My post was in response to a major Muslim leader saying dogs should be forbidden from New York City because to some Muslims, it bothers them. If they’re going to make us choose between our dogs and them going home, the choice is easy," Fine said.
Kiswani, however, said her original post was satire tied to a local debate about dog waste in public spaces and was intended to mock narratives portraying Muslim influence as a threat.
A civil rights organisation, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), condemned Fine’s remarks, calling for accountability and stating that demands for his resignation were “long overdue.”
Several Democratic lawmakers also criticised Fine. Representative Robert Garcia described the remarks as “disgusting Islamophobia and dangerous bigotry,” while Representative Yassamin Ansari urged House leadership to reprimand him. California Governor Gavin Newsom also called on Fine to resign, and British broadcaster Piers Morgan rebuked the congressman online.
Despite the backlash, Fine defended his comments, accusing critics of misrepresenting his post. He shared images of dogs with the phrase “Don’t Tread On Me” and wrote: "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, a first-term congressman elected less than a year ago, has previously faced criticism for controversial remarks related to the Gaza conflict, including suggesting Gazans should “starve away” until Israeli hostages were freed. He is known as a staunch supporter of Israel and has consistently defended its military campaign against Hamas.
Kiswani responded to Fine’s post, pointing out his “documented pattern of dehumanizing Palestinians and Muslims” and highlighting a double standard in how anti-Muslim rhetoric is treated compared to comments about other communities.
The controversy continues to grow, with political and public pressure mounting for Fine to face consequences over his remarks.
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