A post published on the social network X by Republican representative Randy Fine has caused strong political and public controversy in the US, after he wrote: "If we are forced to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not difficult."
The comment was in response to statements by a leader of a pro-Palestinian group about dog owners who do not clean up after their animals on the streets of New York City.
His post sparked a wave of criticism, with Democrats calling for the congressman to resign or face disciplinary action. Fine defended his statements in a television interview, not backing down from his stance.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Fine “an Islamophobe, a despicable and unrepentant bigot,” adding that it was unacceptable that House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, had not strongly condemned his colleague. Jeffries warned that Democrats would not let this behavior go unchallenged and that disciplinary action could be taken if his party regains control of the House in the upcoming elections.
Progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also reacted strongly, calling the statement “one of the most disgusting I have ever seen from an American official.” She added that Fine should be criticized and removed from committees, stressing that ignoring such comments means normalizing them.
The debate has ignited political tensions in the United States, turning the congressman's statement into a new point of contention between Republicans and Democrats.
