His ouster was expected. Liz Cheney, one of the main critics of former US President Donald Trump, was ousted on Wednesday, May 12, from her place of number three in the Republican Party in the House of Representatives, announced several elected at the end of the vote in Congress. “I will do everything in my power to make sure the former president can never come back [à la présidence] “, assured the elected official of the very conservative State of Wyoming, in front of the press after the decision.
“The country needs a strong Republican party that is built on the fundamentals of patriotism, and I am committed to ensuring that this is how the party moves forward.”, insisted the daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney.
Rep. Liz Cheney: “We must go forward based on truth. We cannot both embrace the big lie and embrace the Constitutio… https://t.co/v8ySHLY3qg
Liz Cheney, 54, survived a first motion of no confidence in February. But since then, the patience of some colleagues, including critics of Donald Trump, has waned. With incendiary press releases, the latter largely weighed in his ouster.
A sign of the deep influence that the former Republican president retains on his political camp, the 212 elected Republican members of the House of Representatives ousted the elected conservative from the Republican hierarchy a few minutes after 9 a.m. (3 p.m. in Paris), at following a meeting of about twenty minutes in camera. Liz cheney “Has no personality and has nothing to bring good to our political life or to our country”, commented the ex-real estate magnate in a text published on his blog called “From the desk of Donald Trump” (“From the office of Donald Trump”).
Criticism of Donald Trump’s abuses
Over the past few months, she has relentlessly denounced the “Big lie” relayed by the billionaire when he affirms, against all evidence, that the last presidential election was “Stolen”. And she accused him of inciting violence from pro-Trump protesters during the deadly assault on Capitol Hill.
The elected representative of Wyoming had appeared, in recent days, resigned to losing her place as the party’s number three in the House. But not without urging Republicans to turn their backs “To the cult of the Trump personality”. And on Tuesday night, she gave a scathing speech against her nemesis.
“Keep silent and ignore the lie” on alleged electoral fraud “Embolden the liar”, she launched into a practically empty hemicycle. “I will not participate. I will not stand still in silence as others lead our party down a path that abandons the rule of law and join the former president’s crusade to undermine our democracy. “
The daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney was among ten Republicans in the House to vote to impeach Donald Trump for “Incitement to insurgency” during the attack on the Capitol on January 6. The former US president was then acquitted by the Senate.
Ousted in anticipation of the 2022 midterm elections
Because, in his role of number three, or conference chair, Liz Cheney was responsible for carrying the Republicans’ message. However, the crucial parliamentary midterm elections, the midterms of 2022 are approaching.
Kevin McCarthy’s message is clear: you can’t win without showing a united front. “She has lost her ability to be our spokesperson”, wrote on Tuesday Chip Roy, an elected official from Texas, who had nevertheless supported Liz Cheney during the vote of no confidence, by deploring his “Personal attacks on President Trump”, still very popular with voters.
To replace her, the real estate mogul and Kevin McCarthy support 36-year-old Elise Stefanik. Arriving in Congress six years ago with moderate positions, she has since become one of the great pro-Trump voices in Congress, where she also supports her baseless accusations of electoral fraud.
The vote to appoint her could, however, be postponed for several days, under pressure from conservatives irritated to see this ex-centrist propelled number three without debate.
