House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) condemned an AI-generated antisemitic video targeting Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) in Florida’s 6th Congressional District primary, but faced criticism from progressives for not addressing Fine’s past remarks about Muslims.
On Tuesday, Jeffries stated on X that the video, which depicts Fine with horns and references him as a “fat Jew,” was “blatantly antisemitic” and called for rejection of such rhetoric. The statement received over 2 million views but drew backlash from figures including Mehdi Hasan, editor-in-chief of Zeteo, who questioned why Jeffries did not also address Fine’s prior comments about Muslims. Progressive streamer Hasan Piker similarly criticized Jeffries for focusing on the antisemitic ad while highlighting Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s (D-FL) redistricting decision.
Dan Bilzerian, a challenger to Fine in the GOP primary, released the video on X last week. The ad includes imagery associated with Nazi propaganda, such as horns growing from Fine’s head, and a caption stating, “District 6 understands the Jewish problem.” Fine, the lone Jewish Republican in Florida’s congressional delegation and an ally of former President Donald Trump, called the campaign an “organized pogrom against the Jews.”
Republican and Democratic leaders, including Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), have condemned Bilzerian’s rhetoric. Gottheimer described the ad as celebrating Hitler and drawing on antisemitic tropes. Fine told Fox News Digital that Bilzerian’s campaign amounted to a “political pogrom,” emphasizing the organized nature of the attacks.
The controversy unfolds as Florida voters head to the polls for primary elections that will determine key November matchups. Fine, who is seeking his first full term, has attracted multiple GOP challengers, but Bilzerian’s campaign has drawn the most attention for its explicit antisemitic content.
Fine’s Past Remarks on Muslims
Fine, who represents Florida’s 6th District, has previously faced scrutiny for comments about Muslims. In 2021, he referred to a Muslim community center in his district as a “terrorist training camp” during a legislative debate. The remark drew condemnation from civil rights groups and Muslim advocacy organizations at the time.
Progressive Criticism of Jeffries’ Statement
Progressive commentators argued that Jeffries’ condemnation of antisemitism was incomplete without addressing Fine’s history of inflammatory remarks. Hasan Piker also criticized Wasserman Schultz for her decision to run in a historically Black district after Republican-led redistricting altered her original seat, calling it “carpetbagging.”
Responses from Democratic Leadership
Jeffries’ office did not respond to requests for further comment. A spokesperson for Wasserman Schultz declined to address the criticism directly but noted that she has represented Florida’s 23rd District for over a decade and emphasized her commitment to the Black community.
The primary election in Florida’s 6th District is scheduled for Tuesday, with Bilzerian and Fine among the candidates vying for the GOP nomination.