The latest initiative by Republicans to prevent Democrat Joe Biden from taking office, namely to deny certification of the election results in the US Congress, has so far failed to gain broad support in the ranks of the GOP, but has already landed in hot water after the chairman of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee, Terry Harper, appeared to suggest that Senator Mitt Romney should be executed over his criticism of the idea.
Romney blasted the initiative to thwart the certification of the election results as an "egregious ploy" aimed at serving the "political ambition" of some lawmakers, while posing a threat to "our Democratic Republic". The Utah senator argued that the election results were legit and that Trump had more than enough chances to prove otherwise. Harper, however, reacted harshly to his statement in a now-deleted tweet:
"Romney should be introduced to our friend Mr Guillotine", Harper wrote.
The incendiary tweet grabbed netizens' attention despite being deleted soon after publication. Many of them strongly condemned Harper's "suggestion", arguing that such statements are extremely dangerous.
Some Twitterians suggested it's not Romney's head that should be on a guillotine, pointing out that Harper should probably have a taste of his own medicine.
Many social media users rushed to Romney's aid, defending the GOP senator for all sorts of reasons… even some very unexpected ones, such as his hairstyle, which would be totally ruined should his head be put on the chopping block.
Some even suggested that law enforcement should look into the Texas GOP chairman's "threats".
Several netizens, however, argued that Harper's comment could hardly be assessed as a threat and instead must be treated as an "opinion" of sorts.
Others simply stated that Harper had "a point" in what he was proposing.