Rep. Randy Fine defended his controversial practice of labeling American political figures such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani “terrorists,” arguing that individuals who rhetorically support terrorist organizations or refuse to condemn them can merit the designation even if they do not personally engage in violence.
Fine, a Florida Republican and one of four Jewish Republicans serving in the House, explained his position Sunday during an interview with Breitbart Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow at the 2026 Republican Jewish Coalition National Leadership Summit.
Marlow challenged Fine on whether applying the word “terrorist” to nonviolent political figures risks engaging in the same kind of inflammatory labeling that conservatives have long faced from political opponents.
“Do you find when you call people who are not necessarily violent people terrorists and things like that, as you’ve done, do you feel like that is similar to the way people like me — like my whole life I was called a Nazi even though we’re a pro-Israel website, just because I have conservative viewpoints? Where does that differ?” Marlow asked.
Fine responded by pointing to Hamas leaders who direct the organization while living outside Gaza, arguing that personally carrying out an attack is not a prerequisite for being considered a terrorist.
“Fantastic question. The people who run Hamas, they sit in Qatar or Turkey. They’re not blowing themselves up. They’re not killing anyone. Are they terrorists? Absolutely, they are. So you don’t have to be with the gun in your hand to be the terrorist. The people who support, rhetorically, the person sitting in Qatar and Turkey who runs Hamas — they’re just as bad. And so I think if you support, verbally, terrorism, it makes you a terrorist,” Fine explained.
Fine said the same principle applies to Hamas officials who live comfortably abroad while others carry out violence on behalf of the organization.
“I don’t think anyone would disagree that the people who run Hamas sitting in gilded buildings, eating five-star meals, swimming in swimming pools, sleeping in silk-covered beds — no one has an issue calling them terrorists, but that’s exactly what they are,” he continued.
Marlow then pressed Fine on how broadly he applies that standard, asking whether it encompasses American elected officials who are “not sufficiently anti-Hamas, but are not necessarily pro-violence against other Americans.” He specifically raised Mamdani and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota as examples.
Fine responded by directing his sharpest accusations at Mamdani, citing the mayor’s positions regarding Hamas, Hezbollah and the phrase “globalize the intifada,” as well as allegations concerning antisemitic violence in New York City and social-media activity by Mamdani’s wife.
“Mamdani supports Hamas. Mamdani supports Hezbollah. Mamdani won’t condemn ‘globalize the intifada.’ Mamdani is clearly a terrorist,” Fine alleged. “There’s no question of that. Mamdani allows his city to be overrun with people who stab Jews walking down the street. Mamdani’s wife openly supported October 7th. I mean, what do you have to do to be a terrorist? He is one.”
{Matzav.com}
