The Senate campaign of Republican Rep.Mike Collins (R-GA) removed a highly controversial social media post that referenced former NBC anchor Matt Lauer in a way that critics said was insensitive to the personal history of a rival campaign adviser.

The post targeted Luke Thompson, a strategist for Collins’ runoff opponent Derek Dooley, following Thompson’s share of new polling data showing a tightening race.Collins' campaign account posted a comment referencing Lauer, whose former wife accused him of sexual assault.The comment was widely condemned as inappropriate because it seemingly exploited a painful personal event in Thompson's family.

Georgia’s GOP Senate primary has been marked by tensions, with endorsements split: former football coach Derek Dooley has the backing of Governor Brian Kemp, while former President Donald Trump is expected to endorse Collins, who aligns strongly with the MAGA movement.

The controversy adds to an already heated primary season, highlighting the increasingly personal and confrontational nature of political campaigns in Georgia.The post's deletion came after public backlash and media scrutiny.