Liz Cheney Doubles Down on Stance Opposing Trump

High-ranking Republican may have to fend off another challenge to her leadership post
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted May 3, 2021 11:53 AM CDT
Liz Cheney's Anti-Trump Stance Is Coming to Head
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., listens as President Biden addresses a joint session of Congress, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in the House Chamber.   (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)

Earlier this year, Rep. Liz Cheney survived an attempt to oust her from her No. 3 position among House Republicans. It's beginning to look like the Wyoming congresswoman will have to fend off another challenge in the near future, again over her continued criticism of former President Trump. (Cheney was one of the few Republicans to vote in favor of Trump's impeachment over the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.) Coverage:

  • Versus Trump: On Monday, Trump issued a statement declaring that President Biden's "fraudulent" win will be known henceforth as "THE BIG LIE." Cheney immediately fired back on Twitter. "The 2020 presidential election was not stolen,” she wrote. "Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system."
  • Her critics: The tweet comes as Trump's allies in the House grow increasingly frustrated with Cheney. Axios reports that top Republicans including Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Banks have spoken out publicly. "This idea that you just disregard President Trump is not where we are, and, frankly, he has a lot to offer still," said Scalise. Banks was more critical, saying that he and others are questioning whether Cheney should remain in her role as GOP conference chair.

  • 'Boiling point': The Hill echoes the above, quoting one unnamed Republican who says critics' frustration with Cheney is at a "boiling point" because she is "completely out of sync with the majority of the conference." The story notes a tweet from Rep. Lance Gooden in which he predicts she will be out of her leadership post by the end of May. The story also points out that Cheney went out of her way to fist-bump President Biden before his address to Congress.
  • McCarthy's moves: So is Gooden correct that Cheney's days are numbered? Unclear, according to a post at Politico Playbook. "But what is clear right now is that there is a coordinated effort by KEVIN MCCARTHY to box her out," it adds. "The Republican leader is signaling that if anyone wants to try to force another vote to oust her from the post, he’s not planning to defend her anymore." Banks is interested in replacing her, the post adds.
  • Differences: At the recent GOP retreat in Florida, Cheney said that anyone who thinks the 2020 election was stolen should be disqualified from running in 2024, that she doesn't think Trump is the leader of today's GOP, and that an investigation into the Jan. 6 riots should be narrowly focused, as opposed to the wide-ranging inquiry favored by McCarthy. (Cheney is not ruling out a run of her own.)

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