Rep. Randy Fine Defends Controversial Rhetoric on Terrorism

Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) reaffirmed his stance of labeling U.S. politicians, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as “terrorists.” He also stated that those who support Hamas but do not directly engage in violence are equally culpable. Fine’s comments came during an interview with Breitbart Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow at the Republican Jewish Coalition National Leadership Summit.

In response to Marlow’s question about the appropriateness of calling nonviolent individuals terrorists, Fine argued that the leaders of Hamas, who operate from places like Qatar or Turkey, are indeed terrorists. He contended that one does not need to engage in violence to be labeled as such.

Fine elaborated, asserting that those who vocally support figures behind Hamas are “just as bad.” He emphasized that widely recognized terrorists, who live luxurious lives while supporting violence, should be unapologetically called out for their actions.

Further probing the issue, Marlow asked whether this line of reasoning applied to politicians in the U.S. who may not actively advocate for violence but show support for Hamas, directly mentioning Mamdani and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). Fine was quick to label Mamdani as a terrorist, claiming his support for Hamas and Hezbollah, along with his inaction against violence in his city, qualified him for such a designation.

In Fine’s view, the severity of Mamdani’s rhetoric and actions, including an alleged endorsement of violence, solidifies his label as a terrorist. The dialogue touches on a complicated and highly charged discourse around the boundaries of free speech, political alignment, and the definitions of terrorism.