Liz Cheney promises peaceful transfer of power: ‘Fundamental to the survival of our Republic’

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Thursday promised a peaceful transition of power if President Trump were to lose in his reelection bid.

Her comments come a day after Trump refused to make the same promise.

Cheney, the third-highest member of House Republican leadership, joined other Republicans in distancing herself from controversial remarks made by Trump on Wednesday during a news conference at which he refused to commit to peacefully handing power to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden should Trump lose in November. The president followed those comments by again raising baseless claims of mail-in ballot fraud.

“The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. America’s leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath,” Cheney tweeted Thursday morning.

The peaceful transfer of power is enshrined in our Constitution and fundamental to the survival of our Republic. America’s leaders swear an oath to the Constitution. We will uphold that oath.

— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) September 24, 2020

Her tweet echoed a statement released by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) earlier Thursday. In his own tweet, Rubio vowed that the U.S. “will have a legitimate & fair election” in November and added that next year it would “peacefully swear in the President.”

As we have done for over two centuries we will have a legitimate & fair election

It may take longer than usual to know the outcome,but it will be a valid one

And at noon on Jan 20,2021 we will peacefully swear in the President

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) September 24, 2020

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) went further in a statement on Wednesday, calling Trump’s refusal to commit to peacefully leaving office should he lose “unthinkable.”

“Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable,” he tweeted.

Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) September 24, 2020