Rep. Chip Roy publicly defended Rep. Randy Fine this week following backlash over Fine’s comments about Muslims, declaring in a post that he would oppose any effort to formally rebuke the Florida lawmaker. Roy wrote, “I stand with Rep. Fine,” in response to a post describing a confrontation in which a Muslim man allegedly made a threatening gesture toward a woman’s dog. The statement was widely interpreted as an expression of solidarity with Fine amid mounting criticism of his rhetoric.

I stand with @RepFine – and will fight any move to censure him. https://t.co/Bl4vBdVk5b

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) February 18, 2026

Woman chilling on a park bench with her dog when a Muslim man walks up, motions her to leave, raises his hand to smack the dog and she snaps "Don't hit my dog!"

He responds with a full beheading gesture pointed right at the pup.

Liberals elected these people to run things. pic.twitter.com/nGe5CSdmmG

— Kim "Katie" USA (@KimKatieUSA) February 17, 2026

Fine, a Republican representing Florida’s 6th Congressional District, has drawn national attention in recent days for remarks that critics described as Islamophobic. In one post, Fine wrote, “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.” The comment prompted swift backlash from Muslim advocates and political opponents, who characterized the language as inflammatory and discriminatory.

If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.

— Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) February 15, 2026

Fine is a member of the Sharia-Free America Caucus, a group launched in December 2025 by Roy and Rep. Keith Self. The caucus was created to oppose what its founders describe as the influence of Sharia law in the United States. Since its formation, the group has expanded rapidly. Roy recently announced that its membership had grown to 40 House Republicans, up from 26 at its inception.

“The Sharia Free America Caucus has now reached 40 members! Sharia law has no place in America, not now or ever,” Roy said in a statement marking the milestone. He has consistently framed the caucus as both a legislative and cultural effort to ensure that American courts and institutions do not incorporate elements of Islamic law. During a House Judiciary Committee hearing titled “Sharia-Free America,” Roy argued that Sharia is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution, asserting that it lacks due process protections and conflicts with principles of religious liberty and equal protection.

🚨 The Sharia Free America Caucus has now reached 40 members!

Sharia law has no place in America, not now or ever.

— Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) February 17, 2026

Roy’s decision to publicly back Fine signals that House Republicans aligned with the Sharia-Free America Caucus are prepared to defend members facing criticism over such statements. By pledging to oppose any censure effort, Roy has positioned the dispute not only as a debate over rhetoric but as part of a broader political fight over religious influence, constitutional interpretation, and cultural identity in the United States.

With the caucus continuing to grow, its leaders have indicated that they plan to pursue additional legislative proposals aimed at restricting the recognition of foreign legal systems in American courts. The episode underscores the increasingly polarized environment in which discussions about religion, immigration, and national identity are unfolding on Capitol Hill.