A Republican candidate vying for an upcoming vacant spot in the House of Representatives seemed to issue a warning to the chamber’s only two Muslim women on Tuesday, suggesting they should “think about leaving before I arrive.”
In a communication directed at Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Florida state Senator Randy Fine included the puzzling hashtag “#BombsAway.”
Fine is contesting to succeed Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), who is preparing to resign in Florida’s 6th Congressional District to take up the role of President-elect Donald Trump’s national security adviser.
Trump has given his backing to Fine in this contest.
“The ‘Hebrew Hammer’ is on his way,” Fine, who is Jewish, tweeted regarding his House candidacy, making reference to Tlaib and Omar, whom he suggested “might think about leaving before I arrive. #BombsAway”
Tlaib, the sole member of Congress of Palestinian heritage, along with Omar, have been vocal opponents of Israel’s lengthy siege of Gaza, which was initiated following the attacks on October 7 of the previous year.
Both representatives have consistently urged for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict and have condemned the mounting death toll.
Recent reports from local authorities indicate that 44,000 individuals have lost their lives in the Israel-Hamas conflict (although what number of that were Hamas terrorists interestingly has never been specified), with earlier estimates from the United Nations suggesting approximately 70 percent of the deceased are women and children, figures that are highly questionable at best.
Fine is recognized as a fervent supporter of Israel and has previously made crude comments about Muslims.
Earlier this year, he labeled individuals as “Muslim occupiers” in reference to the Al-Aqsa mosque located in Jerusalem, commending Israelis who entered the sacred site forcefully.
He accused President Joe Biden of employing “Muslim terrorists within the White House” due to his appointment of Maher Bitar, a former diplomat and UN official of Palestinian descent, to work on intelligence policy.
Fine has persistently referred to Biden, who has allocated billions in military aid to Israel, as “Jihad Joe.”
Last year, he remarked that anyone not fearing American Muslims would be a “fool.”
The Republican has recently found himself at odds with the legal system due to his behavior.
In October, a judge in Florida ruled him in contempt of court for making lewd gestures, such as giving the middle finger and mouthing profanities during a virtual court hearing held in August.
During the hearing, he also donned a t-shirt from a previous campaign while addressing a case where a Fine critic sought to have him disqualified from a GOP leadership race ballot. That case was ultimately dismissed.
