Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) expressed not one single ounce of contrition when asked about his widely condemned post on X about dogs and Muslims — a remark Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) had slammed as “genuinely one of the most disgusting statements I have ever seen issued by an American official.”

Fine faced bipartisan backlash earlier this week after responding to a satirical post from a Palestinian American activist about dogs being “unclean” and possibly unsuitable as indoor pets. He wrote: “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.”

When Fine appeared Tuesday on Newsmax’s “Wake Up America,” co-host Marc Lotter referenced the “recent heat” the lawmaker had received over the post.

Lotter falsely claimed Fine was responding to “a major New York City Muslim leader, who suggested that we have to give up our dogs because, quote, ‘NYC is coming to Islam’” and gave him “an opportunity to respond.”

Rep. Randy Fine: "People should know Democrats like AOC are saying 'we are going to get rid of your dogs.' Americans need to keep that in mind when they go and vote in November." pic.twitter.com/KSTM5yhImE

Fine, who has made bigoted, Islamophobic comments on multiple previous occasions, doubled down, offering his own spin on the controversy.

It was “not enough for Democrats to think anyone who wants to come here illegally should be able to do that,” he said. “They also think they should be able to get whatever free stuff they want.”

“Now they are demanding that we change our values and how we live as Americans,” he continued. “My post was in response to a major Muslim leader saying dogs should be forbidden from New York City because to some Muslims it bothers them.”

“Well, if they’re gonna make us choose between our dogs and them going home, the choice is easy and people should know Democrats like AOC are saying, ‘We are going to get rid of your dogs,’” he added. “Americans need to keep that in mind when they go to vote in November.”

Co-host Sharla McBride agreed, saying: “Yeah, it’s really just a wild concept to think that people would have to actually give up their pets.”

Dog-lover Ocasio-Cortez has not responded to Fine’s latest comments.

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