Bill Sheridan

A defiant Liz Cheney has been removed from her leadership role in the Republican party, ostensibly for her anti-Trump stance.

House Republicans ousted the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney from her leadership position Wednesday, a rare move that highlights the power that former President Donald Trump still holds over the GOP. 

Cheney has been one of Trump’s most vocal critics. She voted to Impeach the former President and has continued to deny his claims of the 2020 election having been stolen from him. Cheney served as the House Republican Conference chairwoman, a position that entails leading the chamber’s messaging efforts.  

Speaking moments after the vote to remove her from the No. 3 spot, Cheney (R-Wyo.) said she thinks it shows the GOP’s current state.

“I think that it is an indication of where the Republican Party is, and I think that the party is in a place that we’ve got to bring it back from, and we’ve got to get back to a position where we are a party that can fight for conservative principles, that can fight for substance. We cannot be dragged backward by the very dangerous lies of a former president,” the Wyoming Republican said.

She also said she would continue to buck the former president while supporting her Republican colleagues.

“The nation needs a strong Republican Party. The nation needs a party that is based upon fundamental principles of conservatism, and I am committed and dedicated to ensuring that that’s how this party goes forward, and I plan to lead the fight to do that,” she said.

“I will do everything I can to ensure that the former president never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office,” Cheney said in response to a reporter’s question.

Trump released a statement praising the decision to oust Cheney.

“Liz Cheney is a bitter, horrible human being. I watched her yesterday and realized how bad she is for the Republican Party. She has no personality or anything good having to do with politics or our Country. She is a talking point for Democrats, whether that means the Border, the gas lines, inflation, or destroying our economy,” he said.

“She is a warmonger whose family stupidly pushed us into the never-ending Middle East Disaster, draining our wealth and depleting our Great Military, the worst decision in our Country’s history. I look forward to soon watching her as a Paid Contributor on CNN or MSDNC!”

Following the vote, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a staunch Trump defender, praised the conference’s decision. “You can’t have a conference chair who recites Democrat talking points,” he said. 

Cheney remained defiant as she addressed the chamber prior to the closed-door vote. Her statement read in part, “If you want leaders who will enable and spread [ex-President Trump’s] destructive lies, I’m not your person, you have plenty of others to choose from. That will be their legacy,” she told the room, according to a source familiar with her remarks. “But I promise you this: After today, I will be leading the fight to restore our party and our nation to conservative principles, to defeating socialism, to defending our republic, to making the GOP worthy again of being the party of Lincoln.”

Her comments were booed by a number of GOP lawmakers in the room. 

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who previously nominated Cheney for her leadership position, is expected to be elected to replace her in her leadership role as soon as the end of the week.

What do you think? Should Liz Cheney have been removed from her leadership position, and what do you think this means for the future of the Republican Party? Please reply using the comments below!