Former President Donald Trump went on a rant on his Truth Social platform, criticizing former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney, for throwing their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign. Trump called Dick Cheney an “irrelevant RINO” and claimed Liz Cheney lost by the largest margin in the history of Congressional races. He also criticized Dick Cheney for not pardoning his former chief of staff, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who was convicted in 2007 of perjury and obstruction of justice related to a CIA leak scandal. Trump boasted about pardoning Libby in 2018 and accused Dick Cheney of being responsible for “endless, nonsensical wars” and wasting lives and trillions of dollars.
Dick Cheney, who served as former President George W. Bush’s Vice President, later released a statement confirming that he was backing Harris and warned that Trump could “never be trusted with power again” due to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Trump continued to criticize Dick Cheney and Liz Cheney, accusing them of supporting “Comrade Kamala Harris” and claiming he was the “Peace President” who would stop World War III. He also criticized Liz Cheney for her work as former vice chair of the Jan. 6 committee and pushed false claims about the committee and the events of the Capitol riot.
With his endorsement of Harris, Dick Cheney joined a number of Republicans who have signaled they will not be voting for Trump in the upcoming election. Trump’s rant on Truth Social reflects his ongoing feud with the Cheneys, who have been vocal critics of his presidency. The Cheneys have become increasingly aligned with more moderate or anti-Trump factions within the Republican Party, leading to further divisions within the GOP. Trump’s attacks on the Cheneys highlight the ongoing rift within the party between those who remain loyal to him and those who have distanced themselves from his leadership.
The feud between Trump and the Cheneys underscores the larger divide within the Republican Party between traditional conservatives and Trump loyalists. The Cheneys’ decision to support Harris over Trump highlights their disapproval of Trump’s leadership and policies. Trump’s attacks on the Cheneys, especially his false claims and personal insults, demonstrate the deeply personal nature of the rift within the party. This rift is likely to continue to play out in future elections and could impact the GOP’s ability to unify and present a cohesive front in the face of Democratic opposition.
The Cheneys’ endorsement of Harris reflects a broader trend within the Republican Party of prominent figures distancing themselves from Trump and his brand of politics. While Trump continues to hold significant sway within the party, his divisive tactics and controversial statements have alienated some more traditional Republicans. The Cheneys’ decision to support Harris, a Democrat, over Trump, a fellow Republican, underscores the depth of their opposition to Trump’s leadership and raises questions about the future direction of the GOP. As the party grapples with internal divisions, the feud between Trump and the Cheneys serves as a microcosm of the larger struggle for the soul of the Republican Party in the post-Trump era.
