By Trendsetter Tribune 
In a sharp escalation of House rhetoric, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) issued a stern warning on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, targeting freshman Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL). Jeffries declared that the Florida Republican’s “longstanding pattern of violent, hateful rhetoric” will face severe consequences if Democrats reclaim the House majority in the 2026 midterms.
The warning follows a weekend post by Fine on X (formerly Twitter) that sparked a rare moment of bipartisan condemnation after he implied that dogs are preferable to Muslims.
The “Dogs and Muslims” Controversy
The current firestorm erupted when Fine responded to a post by Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani regarding Islamic traditions and pet ownership.
- Fine’s Remark: “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one. We will not be shamed into being conquered like the Europeans.”
- Bipartisan Backlash: The comment was immediately denounced by Democrats like Ro Khanna and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, who responded to the post by asking, “wtf is this.”
- Fine’s Response: Rather than apologizing, Fine doubled down on Monday, responding to critics with an image of a dog and the phrase “Don’t Tread On Me.”
Jeffries’ Statement: “Accountability is Coming”
In a statement first reported by Punchbowl News, Jeffries labeled Fine a “disgrace” and an “unrepentant bigot,” accusing Speaker Mike Johnson of enabling the behavior through silence.
“House Democrats will not let the racist and bigoted behavior of Randy Fine go unchecked. Accountability is coming to all of these sick extremists when the gavels change hands in November, if not sooner.” — Hakeem Jeffries (Feb 17, 2026)
Potential Consequences if Democrats Retake the House:
- Committee Stripping: Following the precedent set with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar, a Democratic majority could vote to remove Fine from his assignments on the Foreign Affairs and Education committees.
- Censure: A formal public rebuke by the House, which requires a simple majority vote.
- Expulsion: While Jeffries alluded to “checks,” expulsion remains a high bar, requiring a two-thirds supermajority that is rarely achieved in a polarized chamber.
Who is Rep. Randy Fine?
Randy Fine is a relative newcomer to the U.S. House, having won a special election on April 1, 2025, to fill the seat vacated by Mike Waltz (who became National Security Adviser).
| Background Detail | Information |
| District | Florida’s 6th (Daytona Beach area) |
| Previous Role | Florida State Senator and House Member |
| Key Allegations | Called for “citizenship revocations” for Muslims (Dec 2025); termed Palestinian identity “evil” (Feb 2026). |
| Political Alignment | Staunch “America First” Republican and Trump ally. |
The “Florida Resistance” Grows
The controversy comes as Jennifer Jenkins, a longtime political rival of Fine from his time in the Florida legislature, announced her candidacy to unseat him in the upcoming November election. Florida Democrats and advocacy groups like CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) have also called for his immediate resignation, citing an increase in xenophobia and political violence.