Cheney tests Trump grip on GOP post-presidency
Rep. Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyFor Biden, a Senate trial could aid bipartisanship around COVID relief McCarthy supports Cheney remaining in leadership amid calls for her to step down Budowsky: Democracy won, Trump lost, President Biden inaugurated MORE‘s (R-Wyo.) leadership position in the House GOP is turning into a test for former President Trump
Donald TrumpIran’s leader vows ‘revenge,’ posting an image resembling Trump Former Sanders spokesperson: Biden ‘backing away’ from ‘populist offerings’ Justice Dept. to probe sudden departure of US attorney in Atlanta after Trump criticism MORE‘s grip on the conference and the Republican Party.
Trump allies are seeking to remove Cheney from her role as House Republican Conference chair over her vote last week to impeach the president for inciting a mob to attack the Capitol.
Rep. Matt Gaetz
Matthew (Matt) GaetzFlorida Republicans close ranks with Trump after Capitol siege The Memo: Historic vote leaves Trump more isolated than ever Top Republican congressional aide resigns, rips GOP lawmakers who objected to Biden win MORE (R-Fla.), a fierce Cheney critic and one of Trump’s most vocal advocates, said having her at the helm of GOP messaging is “problematic” for the base Trump built.
“I think it’s problematic for a future of the Republican Party,” Gaetz told The Hill. “Liz Cheney represents a vision of the Republican Party that does not energize anyone outside of the Washington, D.C., Beltway.”
A number of prominent conservatives who opted not to join Cheney on impeachment are nonetheless backing her, setting up an internal fight in the House GOP over her future.
Removing Cheney from leadership would require a high threshold in which a two-thirds majority of the conference would need to agree to hold a vote as one step in a complicated procedure. Yet it also likely foreshadows a difficult primary for Cheney, who is likely to be targeted by Trump in 2022.
If Cheney survives, it will be a big win for her — and a significant loss for Trump, possibly signaling a weakening of his power on GOP politics.
The daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney was one of 10 Republicans to vote for impeaching Trump earlier this month, and she was one of the few GOP lawmakers to criticize the former president during his time in office, often pushing back on key foreign policy proposals and occasionally calling out his rhetoric.
Trump would regularly return fire, saying as recently as Jan. 6, right before the deadly siege on the Capitol, that “we’ve got to get rid of the weak congresspeople, the ones that aren’t any good, the Liz Cheneys of the world.”
If Cheney is able to hold on to her leadership post, her opponents, including Trump, could still come after her by backing her primary challenger this election cycle.
Wyoming state Sen. Anthony Bouchard (R) announced after Cheney’s impeachment vote that he will challenge her in 2022.
Cheney fended off a primary challenger in 2018, going on to…