Washington, D.C.: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation, has called on Republican and Democratic congressional leaders to publicly condemn and demand the resignation of Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) over what it described as a pattern of racist and anti-Muslim remarks.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, CAIR cited Fine’s recent comments in which he reportedly declared Palestinian identity “evil” and compared Muslims unfavourably to dogs. According to a report in Newsweek, Fine wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.”
The remarks drew criticism from Gavin Newsom, who publicly called on Fine to resign, writing, “Resign now, you racist slob.”
CAIR condemned Fine’s statements as part of a longstanding pattern of inflammatory rhetoric. “Between his call for the destruction of all ‘mainstream Muslims,’ his claim that Palestinian identity itself is evil, and his call for the killing of everyone in Gaza, Randy Fine is a modern Klansman and Nazi all wrapped into one, only his targets are Muslims and Palestinians,” the organisation said. CAIR urged leaders across the political spectrum to demand his resignation, calling it “long overdue.”
The Washington-based group noted that it had previously called on U.S. House leaders to seek Fine’s resignation after he posted what it termed a “deranged” call for the destruction of all “mainstream Muslims.”
CAIR and its affiliated advocacy arm, CAIR Action, also sent a joint letter last year to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, urging him to support a censure resolution against Fine. The letter cited what the organisation described as a longstanding pattern of violent and hateful rhetoric targeting Muslim members of Congress and called for broader efforts to address Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.
According to CAIR, Fine has made several inflammatory statements on social media and in public appearances over the past two years.
In one instance, he responded “Thanks for the pic!” to a post featuring an image of a Palestinian infant reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike. In another case, he publicly endorsed the bombing of a building that reportedly housed American journalists, replying “Yes!” when asked if it was acceptable that reporters were among the targets.
CAIR also cited a private message in which Fine allegedly told a Florida Muslim critic to “Go blow yourself up!” – a remark the organisation said invoked harmful stereotypes about Muslims.
In December 2023, amid humanitarian concerns in Gaza, Fine posted, “Stop the trucks. Let them eat rockets. There are plenty of those. #BombsAway.” In September 2024, he commented on the killing of Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, referring to her as “One less #MuslimTerrorist,” and encouraged further military action.
Fine also directed remarks at Muslim members of Congress, including Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), warning them to “consider leaving before [he] gets there,” followed by “#BombsAway.” In 2025, he again referred to Tlaib as a “Muslim terrorist” and supported withholding aid to Palestinians facing starvation.
Beyond members of Congress, CAIR pointed to additional remarks by Fine, including a January 2025 post referring to what he called “America’s #MuslimProblem,” and comments made in March 2025 while serving in the Florida State Senate, in which he told a member of the public wearing a keffiyeh to “enjoy your terrorist rag.” He later called for all “Palestinian” organisations to be federally designated as terrorist organisations.
In May 2025, Fine reportedly suggested on national television that the United States should consider using nuclear weapons against Gaza, invoking the atomic bombings of Japan as a model. When pressed on the comments, he reportedly doubled down, making further derogatory statements about Gaza’s population.
CAIR said the cumulative record demonstrates what it described as escalating Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian rhetoric, and renewed its call for congressional leadership to take formal action.
