U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WI) speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., July 21, 2020.
U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the GOP’s “number three”, has recently made comments critical of former President Trump. For this reason, members of the House Freedom Caucus (House Freedom Caucus), a Republican conservative group, urged her to resign from her House Republican leadership position on Thursday (25).
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), a leading Trump supporter and Arizona Republican, told reporters Thursday, “She (Cheney) should resign.”
Another member of the House Freedom Caucus, Texas Rep. Chip Roy, said Cheney has “forfeited her right to be the chairman of the Republican caucus.
The two men called on Cheney to give up his House Republican leadership post a day after Cheney made public remarks that again took aim at Trump.
On Wednesday, at a briefing with reporters by House Republican leaders, both Cheney and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) were asked whether Trump should play a major speaking role at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). The former president remains popular with Republican voters and influential with them. He is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at CPAC on Sunday (28).
McCarthy replied briefly, “Yes, he should (play an important role).”
Cheney then said, “It’s up to CPAC. after Jan. 6, I’ve articulated my own views on President Trump … I don’t think he should play a role in the future of the (Republican) party or the country.”
After a moment of awkward silence, McCarthy ended the press conference.
Cheney, the daughter of former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, has served three terms in Congress and currently chairs the House Republican Conference. She has publicly criticized Trump’s “America First” policy of limiting the use of U.S. troops in international conflicts. She has clashed with Trump and his allies several times during his four years as president.
Cheney came under fire last month for voting to impeach Trump on charges of inciting the Jan. 6 congressional riots. Trump himself denies the charge.
Cheney is one of 10 Republicans who joined House Democrats and voted for Trump’s impeachment, and is the most senior of those 10 Republicans.
Biggs said Cheney’s comments on Wednesday were “crude and rude” but “not unlike at least four other statements she has made in the last few weeks. Biggs stressed that he did not believe she “could further” her House Republican leadership responsibilities.
I also think she has absolutely no political insight into the current situation in the party,” Biggs added. If she had any sense of shame, she would have stepped down.”
Roy, for his part, said Cheney’s latest comments were “completely out of touch with the Republican convention” and stressed that her remarks were “completely contrary” to the position of the majority of House Republicans.
In addition to being pressured to resign in Congress, Cheney is also facing trouble in her Home state. The Wyoming Republican Party has censured her. And her re-election this year also faces multiple major challenges.
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