Rep. Randy Fine to Bring Dog Sadie to State of the Union Amid Social Media Controversy

Republican Congressman to Bring Service Dog to State of the Union Amid Controversy Over Muslim Comments

Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., is making a pointed statement at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address by bringing his father’s seeing-eye service dog as his guest amid ongoing backlash over his controversial social media post about Muslims and dogs.

Fine will be accompanied by his father, Alan Fine, along with his father’s service dog, Sadie, who will wear a shirt reading “Don’t tread on me.” The phrase has become Fine’s rallying cry against critics who condemned his recent remarks on the X platform.

“I think it’s also important, given the issues that I burst into the public consciousness last week, to talk about the importance of our dogs as Americans,” Fine told Fox News Digital. “My father’s seeing-eye dog is part of our family and allows him to live his life, and I’m going to fight like hell against anyone who wants to take it away.”

The controversy began last week when Fine shared a screenshot from Palestinian Muslim activist Nerdeen Kiswani who had written 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.” Fine responded to the post by writing, “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.”

His comment sparked immediate backlash from House Democrats, with reactions ranging from calls for censure to demands for his removal from Congress. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., posted that “House Democrats will not let the racist and bigoted behavior of Randy Fine go unchecked” and promised accountability “when the gavels change hands in November, if not sooner.”

Rather than apologizing, Fine has doubled down on his stance. The Florida Republican questioned why there wasn’t similar outrage when Democratic Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett was found to have texted Jeffrey Epstein during a congressional hearing, or when Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., faced accusations of misusing COVID-19 pandemic funds.

“I think the same people that don’t have a problem with a member of Congress texting Jeffrey Epstein, the same members of Congress who don’t have a problem with a member who stole $5 million of money that was supposed to go to people suffering from natural disasters… somehow have a problem with a member of Congress who says Americans have a right to have a dog and if people don’t like it, they can leave,” Fine said. “So they can shove it.”

The incident highlights growing tensions in Congress over language used regarding religious and ethnic groups, particularly in the context of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. It also reflects the increasingly polarized nature of American politics, where inflammatory remarks are often met with calls for accountability from opponents while being defended as principled stands by supporters.

Kiswani has since clarified that her initial comment about dogs was meant as a joke and called Fine’s response “genocidal.” Nevertheless, Fine has intensified his position by introducing a resolution to Congress called the “Protecting Puppies from Sharia Act,” further inflaming the controversy.

Alan Fine, the congressman’s father, expressed enthusiasm about seeing his son on the House floor as a member of Congress. “I’m actually more excited to be here to watch my son,” he said. “More to see him than the president, to be quite honest. I guess that’s because I’m a Jewish father.”

The State of the Union address, scheduled for later this week, will be President Trump’s first since returning to office. While the president’s speech is expected to outline his administration’s policy agenda, the presence of guests like Fine’s service dog Sadie may draw additional attention to partisan divisions that continue to characterize the political landscape in Washington.