House Democratic leaders have denounced Florida Republican Rep. Randy Fine for suggesting that Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar is a terrorist, calling the remarks ‘unhinged, racist, and Islamophobic’. In a joint statement, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar demanded an apology from Fine, highlighting the divisive nature of his comments. The leaders urged Fine to immediately retract his remarks, emphasizing the need for congressional members to address national issues instead of inciting violence. The incident has raised concerns after recent political violence in Minnesota, where several elected officials were targeted in a shooting spree last month.
Rep. Fine’s comments were a response to Omar’s criticism of Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, whom she labeled a ‘war criminal’. In a post on X, Fine remarked, ‘I’m sure it is difficult to see us welcome the killer of so many of your fellow Muslim terrorists. The only shame is that you serve in Congress.’ Omar, one of the first two Muslim women in Congress, has been a vocal critic of the Israeli government. She was also among the Minnesota officials who appeared in target lists allegedly compiled by Vance Boelter, an accused murderer who launched a shooting spree that killed several people last month.
Jackie Rogers, a spokesperson for Omar, issued a statement calling Fine ‘a dangerous hateful man’ whose actions have involved advocating for the nuking of Gaza, celebrating the death of children, and labeling dissenters as terrorists. In response to the Democratic leaders’ calls for an apology, Fine posted on X, ‘The Hamas Caucus is upset. Boo hoo.’ The incident has sparked further debate about the role of Congress in political discourse and the impact of rhetoric in a time of heightened tensions.