US Democrats slam Republican's 'racist, Islamophobic' attack on Ilhan Omar

Top Democrats in the US House of Representatives condemned Republican Randy Fine on Wednesday for "racist" and "Islamophobic" remarks targeting Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

Fine’s inflammatory comments came in response to Omar’s criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US, as Israel continues its military onslaught in Gaza. Netanyahu is also wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity over his actions in Gaza.

"I'm sure it is difficult to see us welcome the killer of so many of your fellow Muslim terrorists," Fine wrote on X, directly addressing Omar, one of the few Muslim women in Congress.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar swiftly denounced Fine’s remarks. "The unhinged, racist and Islamophobic comments made by Randy Fine about Rep. Ilhan Omar are bigoted and disgusting," they said in a joint statement.

Omar thanked her Democratic colleagues for their support on X, while Fine doubled down, dismissing the backlash and accusing critics of sympathising with extremism.