Mississippi State football coach deletes tweets critical of Romney: ‘Just asked questions’

Mississippi State University head football coach Mike Leach deleted a series of tweets criticizing Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) after the lawmaker broke with his party this week and voted to convict President Trump for abuse of power in his impeachment trial.

Leach, who is a longtime supporter of Trump and campaigned for him in Washington state during his 2016 presidential campaign, asked in one now-deleted tweet “As an American, does ANYONE, REALLY want Mitt Romney on their side?!” USA Today reported.

In another deleted tweet, Leach asked, “Those that believe in the competence of Mitt Romney, what do you trust him to do?”

Leach confirmed to USA Today that he deleted the tweets because he thought “it was drawing more attention than it deserved.” He told the outlet, “Nothing really to report. I just asked questions.” 

Several of Leach’s replies to other Twitter users remained on the social media platform Friday. One user asked the coach “Damn mike you drunk?” and Leach responded, “Is Mitt?!”

Is Mitt?!

— Mike Leach (@Coach_Leach) February 6, 2020

The coach also offered to debate another user who responded to his tweet. The user told Leach, “No one cares about this or thinks you have a grasp on politics.”

I will debate you on any subject on earth. Seriously?

— Mike Leach (@Coach_Leach) February 6, 2020

The tweets were posted after midnight on Thursday, USA Today reported. However, they were removed by Thursday afternoon.

Leach has previously drawn criticism for his tweets on politics. In 2018, when he coached at Washington State University, he deleted a tweet sharing an edited hoax video about former President Obama. 

Washington State University officials said the controversy that followed the tweet cost the school at least $1.6 million in donations, USA Today reported. 

Romney was the sole Republican to vote to convict Trump this week on abuse of power, one of the articles of impeachment the president faced. Romney did not vote to convict Trump on the other article, obstruction of Congress.

The Hill has reached out to Mississippi State University for comment.