The Republican Party is now grappling with its future post-Trump, and some elected officials, such as Gaetz, are positioning themselves as the bearer of its brand by attacking other Republicans like Cheney, hoping to move beyond that. Republican leaders have warned that the fight against the party will harm the party.
“I have a competitive vision for Republicanism,” Gaetz told reporters this week. “I believe we need to accept the spirit and style of President Trump.”
Cheney, the Republican no. 3, was one of only ten Republicans who voted to accuse the former president. In a statement, Cheney blamed the January 6 violence – including the deaths of five people – directly on Trump, saying he “called”, “assembled” and “lit the flame of this attack”.
“There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution,” the Wyoming Republican said.
But Cheney’s decision has resulted in retaliation in her deeply conservative home state, as Gaetz and other Republicans are pushing for her to step down from her leadership position as conference chair of the House GOP. According to a recent poll by Monmouth University, most Republicans still believe the former president and 72% of Republicans still believe his lie that President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.
A GOP state senator, Anthony Bouchard, has announced a 2022 campaign against Cheney. More than 50,000 people have apparently signed a petition from Change.org to “revoke” Cheney. Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s son, tweeted: “with Republicans like Liz Cheney what Democrats need?” And the Wyoming Republican State Party issued a statement saying, ‘There has been no time in our term of office when we have seen this kind of shouting from our fellow Republicans, with the anger and frustration palpable in the comments we made. received. ‘
“Our phone has not stopped ringing, our email address is full, and our website has seen more traffic than ever before,” the statement said. “The consensus is clear that those who vehemently reach out to the party do not agree with the decision and actions of Representative Cheney.”
Gaetz said Cheney’s ‘main task’ is to “carry the message” from her fellow Republicans.
“Most members of the Republican convention do not believe Liz Cheney speaks for them,” he said.
A source in Cheney’s office dismissed Gaetz’s event as a publicity stunt. The source said that “Rep. Gaetz can leave his beauty bag at home. In Wyoming, the men do not wear makeup.” The source is linked to a video of Gaetz talking about making up a television appearance.
Cheney’s allies rushed to her aid. Former Republican Gov. Matt Mead has joined a local newspaper, saying she has the “courage” to fulfill her constitutional duty, regardless of the personal or political costs she would pay. ‘And John Barrasso, Senator of Wyoming
defended Cheney as an effective member of the congressional delegation of their state.
“Wyoming does not like it when outsiders come into our state and try to tell us what to do,” said Amy Edmonds, a former state legislator and former director of communications through Cheney.
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy underestimated his support for Cheney, saying she should stay in leadership but that she had “concerns” about her decision.
Gaetz said the only conversation he had with McCarthy about his attempts to oust Cheney was after a recent television interview, when McCarthy asked him to stop referring to Cheney and others with whom he disagreed. , in view of the increase in death threats against members of Congress.
“I sat down for about a day or two with references to people,” Gaetz said. “But after Liz became more, I think, problematic in her departure from the conference perspective, it became untenable not to identify her as the main internal resistance in the Republican Party to the American first vision.”
Political observers in Wyoming have said that Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, will repel the critical scramble.
“There’s going to be backlash, but I do not think it’s something she can survive,” said Jim King, a professor of political science.
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