'If They Force Us To Choose...': US Congressman Under Fire For Post Comparing Muslims To Dogs

Last Updated:February 18, 2026, 05:29 IST

Randy Fine later said his post was a response to comments by Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani.

A social media post by US Congressman Randy Fine comparing Muslims to dogs triggered widespread outrage in Washington, drawing condemnation from lawmakers, civil rights organisations and public figures, along with calls for disciplinary action and resignation.

Randy Fine, a Republican congressman from Florida, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one."

Randy Fine later said his post was a response to comments by Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani. Sharing a screenshot of her earlier message, he said that he was reacting to what he described as calls by a Muslim leader to ban dogs from 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," he said.

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Nerdeen Kiswani, however, said her original post was satire linked to a local debate about dog waste in public spaces and was intended to mock narratives portraying Muslim influence as a threat.

Civil rights organisation Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Randy Fine’s comments and called for accountability, saying demands for his resignation were “long overdue."

Several Democratic lawmakers also criticised the congressman with Representative Robert Garcia describing the remarks as “disgusting Islamophobia and dangerous bigotry" while Representative Yassamin Ansari urged House leadership to reprimand him.

Gavin Newsom also weighed in, calling on Randy Fine to resign in a sharply worded social media post. British broadcaster Piers Morgan similarly rebuked the congressman online.

Despite the backlash, Randy Fine defended his remarks and criticised his opponents, accusing them of misrepresenting his comments. Randy Fine, who was elected to US Congress less than a year ago, has previously faced criticism for controversial remarks related to the Gaza conflict.

News world 'If They Force Us To Choose...': US Congressman Under Fire For Post Comparing Muslims To Dogs

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