Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, is encouraging Randy Fine, a Florida legislator who praised the killing of an American citizen by the Israeli military, to run for Congress.
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump stated that if State Senator Randy Fine decides to seek a congressional seat in Florida, he would have his “Complete and Total Endorsement”.
Fine, known for his anti-Muslim remarks, caused controversy earlier this year when he seemed to approve of the killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a US activist shot by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank.
“Throw rocks, get shot. One less #MuslimTerrorist. #FireAway,” Fine posted in September.
Eygi was participating in a peaceful protest when she was shot. Both Israel and the outgoing administration of Joe Biden dismissed her killing as an accident.
Fine’s post, found in violation of X’s violent speech policy, is part of his history of inflammatory, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic comments.
“Fine is a friend to no one except fascism,” stated Rasha Mubarak, a Palestinian-American activist from Florida.
“Trump’s endorsement signifies a strengthening alignment with violent, fascist elements within the capitalist class, who benefit from sowing division and perpetuating imperialism,” she added.
Fine has often proclaimed that the US has a “Muslim problem”. In response to a social media user stating that Palestinians were being forced out of their homes by Israel, he replied with: “#BlowThemUp”.
According to the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), he also sent a private message to a Florida resident saying: “Go blow yourself up!”
Two years earlier, Fine referred to Jews supporting Palestinian rights as “Judenrat” – Nazi collaborators.
Despite celebrating the killing of an American woman by a foreign military, Trump described Fine as an “America First Patriot” and urged him to run for Congressman Mike Waltz’s seat.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will call for a special election to fill the vacancy next year.
Fine, who previously served in Florida’s House of Representatives and was recently elected to the state’s Senate, has not announced his candidacy, but he welcomed Trump’s statement.
“It would be the honor of my life to be one of your footsoldiers,” he wrote, addressing the incoming president. “Your confidence is overwhelming and I will have news to share soon!”
