‘Hateful’: Leaders from both parties slam far-right House candidate Dan Bilzerian’s antisemitic attacks
Politicians and elected officials from both parties are denouncing the onslaught of antisemitic postings, including posts directed at Jewish Republican Rep. Randy Fine by Dan Bilzerian, who is challenging Fine in Florida’s 6th Congressional District.
While Bilzerian, an influencer, podcaster and businessman, has long spread provocative language and antisemitism, he has ramped up his rhetoric with a slew of antisemitic ads and verbal attacks targeting Fine. His content has also included references to Adolf Hitler and explicit antisemitic tropes.
Leaders from both parties in the House, Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, condemned Bilzerian’s rhetoric and his candidacy Sunday evening.
Dan Bilzerian attends qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway, April 24, 2015 in Richmond, Va.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
“The vile attack ads against Congressman Randy Fine in Florida’s 6th District are disgusting and should be condemned by all political leaders on the Right and Left. Antisemitism and outward hatred of Jewish communities have no place in our politics or in America, and we will continue to call them out wherever they arise,” Johnson posted on X.
Jeffries similarly slammed the GOP candidate for his “hateful campaign,” which he calls “blatantly antisemitic and shocks the conscience.”
Republican Rep. Don Bacon and GOP Sen. Ted Cruz also expressed their revulsion, though Bilzerian remains undeterred and is using such criticism to further fuel his campaign.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also called Bilzerian’s rhetoric “possibly the most disgusting political thread I’ve seen.”
Randy Fine, Republican nominee for 2025 Florida’s 6th congressional district special election, speaks at a watch party, as Florida holds a special election for a U.S. House of Representatives seat vacated by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, in Ormond Beach, Fla., April 1, 2025.
Octavio Jones/Reuters, FILE
Fine, who won a special election last year to replace then-Rep. Mike Waltz when he resigned to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has faced criticism over some of his remarks about Muslims and Palestinians.
In February Fine posted on X, “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.” He later said his comment was in response to a post by Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani, who had written “Finally NYC is coming to Islam. Dogs definitely have a place in society, just not as indoor pets.” She said she had posted during a debate about picking up pet waste in New York City.
In response to Kiswani’s post, Fine posted, “For context, this is the leader of one of the key mainstream Muslim groups that supported [New York City Mayor Zohran] Mamdani,” but he did not apologize.
Last July, Fine called Somali American Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar a “Muslim terrorist” after she had called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal.”
According to his campaign website, Bilzerian supports ending all foreign aid, including to Israel, and pushes an antisemitic claim that Jewish special interest groups are running the country into the ground.
Bilzerian is among other far-right conservative voices running in Florida who have been critical of Israel, including James Fishback for governor and Jake Lang for Senate.
The issue of U.S. support for Israel is playing out in other races, including the Democratic primary in Florida’s 25th District, where incumbent Rep. Jared Moskowitz is trying to fend off a challenge from progressive Oliver Larkin. Moskowitz has been a supporter of Israel, while Larkin has called for the U.S. to cut off aid.