California Governor Gavin Newsom called for the resignation of Representative Randy Fine (R-Fla.) after the congressman posted a highly controversial statement about Muslims. In a blunt social media response to Fine, Newsom wrote, “Resign now, you racist slob,” escalating a growing national debate over Islamophobia and political rhetoric. The exchange comes amid Fine’s ongoing public opposition to Sharia law and his participation in the newly formed Sharia-Free America Caucus.
Resign now, you racist slob. https://t.co/wt7xiNMX5p
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) February 16, 2026
Representative Fine, who represents Florida’s 6th District, made the comments earlier in response to social media posts discussing Islamic views on pets. Fine wrote, “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one,” directly replying to remarks by Nerdeen Kiswani, a Muslim activist in New York City. Kiswani had written, “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.” Fine contextualized his response by referencing a leader of a mainstream Muslim organization who had supported New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
For context, this is the leader of one of the key mainstream Muslim groups that supported Mamdani. pic.twitter.com/zcIs4tVyly
— Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) February 15, 2026
Earlier this month, Fine appeared at the first press conference of the Sharia-Free America Caucus in Washington, using the platform to underscore his opposition to Sharia law in the United States. “If you would like to live under Sharia law, you have 57 countries to choose from. The United States will NEVER be the 58th. If you do not agree with our ways, I will point you to the door,” Fine said in a social media post following the event. The caucus, launched by Representatives Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Keith Self (R-Texas), now includes dozens of Republican members who describe their mission as preventing Sharia law from influencing American society.
If you would like to live under Sharia law, you have 57 countries to choose from.
— Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) February 4, 2026
The United States will NEVER be the 58th.
If you do not agree with our ways, I will point you to the door. pic.twitter.com/Y2GQFB5e6e
The exchange between Fine, Kiswani, and Newsom underscores a widening divide in U.S. politics over Islam, religious freedom, and cultural integration. Fine’s comments, amplified on social media, have drawn attention to the role elected officials play in shaping public discourse around minority communities. Newsom, who has publicly positioned himself as a critic of inflammatory rhetoric, issued his statement amid speculation about his own political ambitions. According to Polymarket, Newsom currently has 17% odds of running for president in 2028, suggesting that his interventions in national debates could serve both political and cultural signaling purposes.
As national conversations over religion, culture, and law continue to evolve, the conflict highlights the tensions between free speech, political influence, and social responsibility. Newsom’s call for Fine’s resignation represents a rare and forceful rebuke from a sitting governor against a member of Congress, reflecting both the heightened scrutiny of Islamophobic rhetoric and the increasingly polarized political climate.
