‘We stand with Mitt.’ Crowdfunded Utah billboard backs Romney’s Trump impeachment vote
President Donald Trump has ridiculed Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah in the days after Romney voted to convict and remove the president on impeachment charges.
But back home, Romney’s vote has received some support — at least if these billboards are any indication.
Two political groups, Student Republicans of Utah and Republicans for the Rule, have rolled out a new billboard that reads “WE STAND WITH MITT” and is posted near Brigham Young University’s campus in Orem, KSL reports.
A GoFundMe page created by Student Republicans of Utah four days ago aimed to crowdfund $500 to purchase billboards.
“If we reach our goal, we will be placing a thank you message for him on several billboards throughout I-15 during [its] busiest times over the next two weeks,” the fundraising appeal said.
That fundraiser had raised more than $700 from dozens of donors as of Tuesday afternoon.
“Many Utahans know Mitt to be a man of great faith and character,” said Alex Thompson, president of Student Republicans of Utah, according to KSL. “Most are proud of what he has done, despite what the media might say. We want to take this opportunity to thank Mitt for his integrity, character, and faith in doing what he thought was right, especially when it wasn’t easy.”
Thompson reached out to Republicans for the Rule of Law after the fundraiser raked in $550, and that national anti-Trump group worked with Student Republicans of Utah to buy the billboard, KUTV reports.
The organizers of the fundraiser wrote on the GoFundMe page that “whether or not you agree with his decision to convict Donald Trump, it’s hard not to agree that Mitt did what he felt was right even in the face of great opposition. This should be admired.”
KUTV reports that the billboard will remain for a week.
That new digital billboard isn’t the only one backing Romney since his controversial vote that sparked backlash among some Republicans.
Last week, the Deseret News reported that “Republicans for the Rule of Law put up digital billboards on I-15 near the 3300 South exit on Friday showing a picture of Romney with the words ‘This is what a patriot looks like.’ The organization also will run an ad on Fox News five times a day every day next week thanking Romney.”
“Mitt Romney is nobody’s puppet,” said Chris Truax, a spokesperson for Republicans for the Rule of Law, according to the Hill. “Whether we agree with all of his conclusions or not, we should all salute Senator Romney for his sincere commitment to the rule of law.”
Other than Romney, every Republican senator voted to acquit the president on both impeachment charges he faced.
Romney voted to acquit Trump on the charge that he obstructed Congress, while voting with every Democrat in the chamber to convict and remove the president for abuse of power.
Trump wasted no time going after Romney on Twitter.
