By Trendsetter Tribune 
A fierce political firestorm erupted on Monday, February 16, 2026, as California Governor Gavin Newsom and several prominent Democrats called for the immediate resignation of Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL). The outcry follows a social media post in which Fine compared the Muslim community unfavorably to dogs, marking a new low in the congressman’s history of inflammatory rhetoric.
The controversy highlights the deepening religious and political fractures within the 119th Congress, as Fine continues to clash with progressive and Muslim lawmakers.
The Incident: “A Choice Not Difficult to Make”
The conflict began when Fine reacted to a post by activist Nerdeen Kiswani regarding New York City’s pet policies. Kiswani, who has supported New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, reportedly joked about traditional Islamic views on dogs as indoor pets, stating, “Finally, NYC is coming to Islam… dogs are unclean.”
Fine responded on X (formerly Twitter) with a statement that has since been viewed over 11 million times:
“If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.”
“Resign Now, You Racist Slob”
Governor Gavin Newsom led the charge in condemning the remarks, using unusually blunt language for a sitting governor.
- The Demand: Newsom shared Fine’s post with the caption, “Resign now, you racist slob,” signaling a complete breakdown in professional decorum between the two officials.
- Congressional Pushback: Representative Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) echoed the call, arguing that Fine has “repeatedly dehumanized Muslims without consequence.” She urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to reprimand Fine, stating that such comments would be grounds for immediate termination in any other workplace.
- CAIR’s Response: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) characterized Fine as a “modern Klansman” and noted his previous calls for the “destruction” of mainstream Muslims as evidence of a “sociopathic” pattern of bigotry.
A History of Escalating Rhetoric
The “dogs” comment is only the latest in a string of controversies involving Fine since he was sworn into Congress in April 2025:
- The “Hebrew Hammer” vs. Ilhan Omar: Fine has repeatedly targeted Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), calling her a “Muslim terrorist” and “Jihadist.” In December 2025, he suggested he was drafting a resolution to expel her from the House.
- The No Sharia Act: In October 2025, Fine introduced legislation to prohibit the implementation of Sharia law in the U.S., citing what he called a “growing threat” to American society.
- Deportation Calls: Fine has publicly called for the denaturalization and deportation of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is currently the city’s first Muslim mayor.
Timeline of Randy Fine’s 2025-2026 Controversies
| Date | Action/Statement | Consequence/Reaction |
| July 2025 | Called Rep. Ilhan Omar a “Muslim terrorist.” | House Democratic leadership demanded an apology; Fine refused. |
| Oct 2025 | Introduced the “No Sharia Act.” | Criticized by civil rights groups as unconstitutional. |
| Dec 2025 | Called for the “destruction” of mainstream Muslims. | CAIR issued its first formal call for his resignation. |
| Feb 16, 2026 | Stated he prefers dogs to Muslims. | Newsom, Ansari, and others demand immediate resignation. |
Resign now, you racist slob. https://t.co/wt7xiNMX5p
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) February 16, 2026