House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) spoke before the U.S. House to complain that 45th President Donald Trump is still talking about the “stolen” 2020 election via emails sent to his supporters, appearances at Mar-A-Lago, and interviews with conservative news outlets.
“Today, we face threat America has never seen before. A former president who provoked a violent attack on this Capitol, in an effort to steal the election, has resumed his aggressive effort to convince Americans that the election was stolen from him,” Cheney asserted without evidence. “He risks inciting further violence. Millions of Americans have been mislead by the former President, they have heard only his words, but not the truth, as he continues to undermine our Democratic process, sowing seeds of doubt about whether democracy really works at all.” This apparently marks the first time Cheney has accused President Trump of trying to steal the 2020 election.
GOP Rep. Liz Cheney: "Today, we face threat America has never seen before. A former president who provoked a violent attack on this Capitol, in an effort to steal the election, has resumed his aggressive effort to convince Americans that the election was stolen from him." pic.twitter.com/Uh6IOcfRHA
— Axios (@axios) May 12, 2021
Despite being one of only a few Republicans who do not – at least publicly – support President Trump, Cheney regained her leadership role in the Republican minority of the U.S. House due to support from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other establishment Republicans. Cheney has been rewarded with a shockingly low 10% approval rating in her home state, a censure from the Wyoming Republican Party, and a promise from President Trump to endorse her strongest primary opponent in 2022.
Accordingly, Cheney is eyeing the Oval Office herself in 2024, which President Trump described as an escape hatch that will allow Cheney to save face by either bowing out of her 2022 reelection or choose not to run, instead focusing on a run for the White House in 2024.
“Liz Cheney is polling sooo low in Wyoming, and has sooo little support, even from the Wyoming Republican Party, that she is looking for a way out of her Congressional race. Based on all polling, there is no way she can win,” President Trump said last month. “She’ll either be yet another lobbyist or maybe embarrass her family by running for President, in order to save face. This warmongering fool wants to stay in the Middle East and Afghanistan for another 19 years, but doesn’t consider the big picture—Russia and China!” President Trump endorsed Cheney in 2018.
