Lawmakers across the political spectrum are uniting to denounce a wave of antisemitic online attacks targeting Jewish Republican Rep. Randy Fine by primary opponent Dan Bilzerian, who is mounting a congressional challenge in Florida’s 6th District, ABC News reports.
Though Bilzerian - a social media personality, podcaster, and entrepreneur - has long generated controversy through inflammatory statements and antisemitic commentary, he has intensified his offensive with a wave of anti-Jewish advertisement campaigns and verbal broadsides against Fine. His promotional materials have contained references to Adolf Hitler alongside overt antisemitic tropes.
Top congressional figures from both political camps, House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, issued public rebukes of Bilzerian's rhetoric and primary bid on Sunday evening.
"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 called "blatantly antisemitic and shocks the conscience."
In addition, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Republican Rep. Don Bacon expressed horror over the attacks; however, Bilzerian appears unfazed by the backlash and is using the condemnation to energize his supporters.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also called Bilzerian's rhetoric "possibly the most disgusting political thread I've seen."
Fine, who secured his congressional seat in a special election last year following the resignation of then-Rep. Mike Waltz to assume the post of US ambassador to the United Nations, has himself drawn pushback over previous remarks.
Last July, Fine referred to Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the so-called “Squad" known for her anti-Israel views, as a "Muslim terrorist" after she labeled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal."
According to information on his campaign portal, Bilzerian advocates for a total elimination of foreign financial support, including to Israel, while endorsing an antisemitic narrative that Jewish interest groups hold manipulative influence over the nation.
Bilzerian is part of a broader field of far-right candidates in Florida who have voiced opposition to Israel, alongside gubernatorial hopeful James Fishback and Senate candidate Jake Lang.