Randy Fine is facing mounting backlash after posting on X that choosing between dogs and Muslims would not be difficult, a remark that triggered condemnation from lawmakers, civil rights groups, and public figures across the United States. The controversy escalated after he shared a post by Nerdeen Kiswani, co founder of Within Our Lifetime, who had earlier made a comment about dogs that she later said was satire tied to a local New York discussion. Fine linked her remarks to support for Zohran Mamdani and argued they reflected broader concerns, doubling down in a televised interview with Newsmax and continuing to post images reinforcing his stance.

The statements drew sharp criticism from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which urged congressional leaders to demand his resignation, citing what it described as a pattern of inflammatory rhetoric. Hakeem Jeffries called the remarks disgusting and unacceptable, while Robert Garcia and Yassamin Ansari said disciplinary action should be considered. Gavin Newsom also publicly rebuked Fine and demanded his resignation. Critics questioned why Mike Johnson and other congressional leaders had not issued stronger responses.

Kiswani told NBC News that her original post had been meant as satire highlighting what she described as Islamophobic narratives, and she accused Fine of repeatedly dehumanizing Muslims and Pales-tinians. She also referenced comments made in a past book by Kristi Noem to argue that reactions to her statement reflected double standards. Fine rejected criticism and insisted his remarks were justified, even responding to broadcaster Piers Morgan online and saying he would not be shamed into silence.

The controversy has also revived scrutiny of Fine’s earlier statements about the war on Ga-za involving Ham-as, which previously drew criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Greene. Observers say the episode reflects a broader pattern of escalating political rhetoric around religion, identity, and international conflicts, with advocacy groups warning that such language can deepen polarization and increase hostility toward minority communities.