In New Hampshire, Cheney says Trump ‘at war’ with Constitution

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Tuesday ripped into former President Trump for being “at war” with the Constitution and condemned GOP leaders who have failed to show courage and reject his lies that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Americans are “confronting a domestic threat that we’ve never faced before: a former president who’s attempting to unravel the foundations of our Constitutional Republic, aided by political leaders who have made themselves willing hostages to this dangerous and irrational man,” Cheney said at a speech in New Hampshire. 

On Monday night, she said, Trump was invited by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other GOP leaders to keynote the House GOP’s annual fundraising dinner. Trump reportedly said that the true “insurrection was on Nov. 3,” election day, and that the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was merely a “protest.”

“Political leaders who sit silent in the face of these false and dangerous claims are aiding a former president who is at war with the rule of law and the Constitution,” Cheney said. 

Cheney was one of 10 House Republicans who joined all Democrats in voting to impeach Trump for his role in the violent Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, an ultimately unsuccessful bid to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s election victory. After she was ousted as the No. 3 GOP leader over her consistent criticism of Trump, Democrats appointed Cheney to serve on the special House committee investigating the attack.

Her remarks were delivered Tuesday at St. Anselm College’s Nackey Loeb School of Communication in the early primary state of New Hampshire, a speech that will only fan speculation that Cheney, the 55-year-old daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, could mount a challenge to Trump if he decides to run again in 2024.

Cheney, a self described conservative Republican, said she vehemently disagrees with “nearly everything President Biden has done.” But she’s more concerned with what Trump and his loyalists are doing to the Republican Party — and the country — by perpetuating election lies.

“I love my party. I love its history. I love its principles, but I love my country more,” she said. “I know this nation needs a Republican Party that is based on truth, one that puts forward our ideals and our policies based on substance. One that is willing to reject the former president’s lies.”

“In this time of testing, will we do our duty? Will we do what we must? Will we defend our Constitution? Will we stand for truth? Will we put duty to our oath above partisan politics? Or will we look away from the danger, ignore the threat, embrace the lies and enable the liar?” Cheney continued. “There is no gray area when it comes to that question. When it comes to this moment, there is no middle ground.” 

Cheney’s address came the same day her Jan. 6 panel issued new subpoenas for 10 Trump administration officials, including senior aide Stephen Miller, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, and deputy chief of staff Chris Liddell. The committee issued six subpoenas for people in Trump’s inner circle on Monday.

Trump has attacked Cheney as a disloyal “warmonger,” and has endorsed a GOP opponent, Harriet Hageman, in next year’s primary for the at-large Wyoming seat.