The daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney is Wyoming’s sole representative in the House. She ran for the seat after losing in a primary to Republican Senator Mike Enzi. Cheney has kept a relatively low profile while in the House, but garnered attention weeks ago after she posted a picture of her father wearing a mask, with the caption “real men wear masks.” Cheney has publicly supported Dr. Fauci, who has broken from Trump in many of the Coronavirus messaging. Back in May, Cheney tweeted, “Dr. Fauci is one of the finest public servant we have ever had. He is not a partisan. His only interest is saving lives. We need his expertise and his judgment to defeat this virus. All Americans should be thanking him. Every day.”
As the GOP Conference Chairwoman, Representative Matt Gaetz has publicly called for the removal of her from her leadership position, saying that she has worked to undermine President Trump. Amidst criticism from her colleagues, Cheney defended herself, telling Fox News that she votes with Trump “97% of the time,” but differs with him on some national security issues.
Apparently, there was a fight behind closed doors during the GOP Conference meeting. Cheney supported Todd McMurtry, who ran against Representative Massie from Kentucky in the primary. Representative Matt Gaetz jumped on her decision to support a non-incumbent, despite her actually being in line with Trump. Gaetz is a loyal Trump supporter, and news of the clash reached the president. Trump tweeted, “Liz Cheney is only upset because I have been actively getting our great and beautiful Country out of the ridiculous and costly Endless Wars. I am also making our so-called allies pay tens of billions of dollars in delinquent military costs. They must, at least, treat us fairly!!!”
Why this matters: While news of the meeting is only second hand, it paints a picture of the Republican Party divided. Gaetz, Jordan, and others are fierce Trump loyalists, and they were the two who reportedly called Cheney out the most. They focused on her support of Fauci, and her votes on national security policy. With an election coming in just a few months, they have called for her resignation. The tensions between Trump loyalists and “Never Trumpers,” has been a continuous divide between the Republicans. It is difficult, however, for people to say she is a “Republican In Name Only,” as she comes from a powerful Republican family. The attacks on Cheney illustrate the changing landscape, and leave the question to many of what it means to be a Republican in its present form. It also shines light on those who break from Trump to support their own beliefs, and what they could mean for their reelection.
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