Can Liz Cheney get out of politics once and for all?
Former Republican Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming found herself at the center of controversy when she called upon the U.S. Supreme Court to reject Donald Trump’s claim of presidential immunity, drawing ire from supporters of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
Trump sought to appeal a previous decision denying his assertion of presidential immunity in the face of federal election interference charges. A recent ruling by a federal appeals court rejected Trump’s immunity, opening the door for Special Counsel Jack Smith to pursue criminal charges against Trump related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and his purported involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, decrying the charges as politically motivated.
In response, Cheney took to X (formerly Twitter), where she has been vocal about her criticisms of both the GOP’s trajectory and Trump. She urged the Supreme Court to dismiss Trump’s claim, emphasizing the importance of accountability for all, regardless of their position.
“It’s imperative that the grand jury evidence against Trump sees the light of day in open court. While leaders like Putin may enjoy immunity from their own laws, the same cannot hold true for a U.S. President,” Cheney’s X post read, drawing parallels to recent events involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and the tragic demise of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Cheney’s stance isn’t new. She was among the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the Capitol riot and later served on the House committee investigating the incident, actions that drew considerable backlash from conservative circles. Ultimately, Cheney lost her primary election bid in 2022 to Harriet Hageman, backed by Trump, who now represents Wyoming in Congress.
In the aftermath of her latest comments, Cheney faced criticism from MAGA supporters on X. Dory Beutel dismissed her actions as part of a “DC crime spree,” attributing them to the fallout of the “poisonous Russian collusion fraud.” Others, like Dave, took a more mocking tone, referencing Cheney’s loss in Congress. Meanwhile, super_ultraMAGA issued a warning, implying repercussions if Trump were to regain power.
However, amidst the backlash, some voices echoed Cheney’s sentiments. User death2freedom went as far as advocating for the detention of those denying the severity of the January 6th insurrection.
Cheney’s recent remarks echo her warnings on CNN’s State of the Union, where she cautioned against the implications of Trump’s statements regarding NATO. Trump’s remarks at a recent rally, where he appeared to endorse Putin’s actions towards NATO, elicited bipartisan condemnation. Cheney emphasized the seriousness of Trump’s rhetoric, expressing concerns about a pro-Putin faction gaining prominence within the Republican Party and its potential impact on U.S. foreign policy.
As the debate surrounding Trump’s legal battles and political future intensifies, figures like Cheney continue to play a prominent role in shaping the discourse within the GOP and broader American politics.