Lane Kiffin draws criticism after posting, deleting Trump-inspired LSU hats
By David Wasson
Published:
LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin touched off a firestorm of criticism via his social media on Saturday, posting a photo of MAGA-inspired LSU hats with a tag to President Donald Trump before deleting it and reposting without the tag and with a new caption.
Kiffin’s original post from his X account almost instantly garnered backlash from across social media – with many wondering if there could be ramifications for LSU’s recruiting efforts.
Kiffin, 50, is no stranger to social media controversy. The former Ole Miss head coach often uses X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to needle opposing teams, coaches, and fanbases.
Even his decision to change schools was mired in drama. Kiffin was hired by LSU in late November after a contentious 3-way battle for his services, with his former employer, Ole Miss, and Florida both being left in the cold when Kiffin decided to join the Tigers. Kiffin departed Ole Miss on the eve of the Rebels earning their first-ever College Football Playoff berth.
Kiffin expressed a desire to keep coaching Ole Miss through its CFP run, but was denied that opportunity. The Rebels instead promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to the head coaching spot. Golding and Ole Miss went on to win a CFP first-round game against Tulane and upend Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, transforming the Rebels’ new coach into an instant fan favorite and solidifying Kiffin as one of college football’s villains in the minds of many across the sport.
In the days since, Kiffin has been a target for criticism. That was especially true on Saturday.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
