On Feb. 12, Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani posted on X: 'Finally, NYC is coming to Islam. Dogs definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets. Like we've said all along, they are unclean.' Kiswani said in a follow-up post and interviews that the comment was a joke referencing a local NYC debate about dog owners not cleaning up after pets following a snowstorm. She said she was satirizing Islamophobic reactions to Mayor Zohran Mamdani's election.
Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) responded days later: 'If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.' He framed Kiswani as a major Muslim leader demanding dogs be banned from NYC. Fine doubled down in Newsmax interviews, saying the choice was 'easy' and that 'if they're going to make us choose between our dogs and them going home, the choice is easy.'
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Fine 'an Islamophobic, disgusting and unrepentant bigot' and called for accountability. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called it 'one of the most disgusting statements' from an American official. Some Democrats discussed forcing a censure vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson did not comment.
Megyn Kelly, a conservative media figure, also criticized Fine publicly, calling him a 'pathetic sweaty man' who went 'full bigot.' Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC) praised Fine's 'courage' on Newsmax. Fine has a prior record of anti-Muslim statements in Congress.