By Maggie Astor
Former Representative Liz Cheney from Wyoming, a staunch opponent of Trump who has backed Vice President Kamala Harris, condemned numerous Republicans earlier this week for their excessive loyalty to former President Donald Trump.
In an ABC News interview, Cheney stated she had never cast a vote for a Democrat in the past, yet she would support Harris because she felt that electing Trump could lead to an “irrevocable disaster” for the nation. She accused Republicans supporting Trump — including Nikki Haley, who had opposed him during the Republican primaries but is now in his corner — of betraying both the Constitution and their conservative values for party loyalty.
Cheney’s father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, also endorsed Harris on Friday. She sharply criticized Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, comparing him unfavorably to former Vice President Mike Pence, who resisted Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Vance “has explicitly stated that he would prioritize Donald Trump’s orders over the Constitution, and it is difficult to conceive of a more severe threat than a president and vice president who elevate themselves above the Constitution,” she remarked. (Vance has indicated that had he been vice president on January 6, 2021, he would have directed states Trump lost to submit multiple slates of electors to Congress and allow Congress to determine which to accept.)
Cheney emphasized that her choice to back Harris stemmed mainly from a commitment to democratic values, asserting, “Donald Trump poses a fundamental challenge and risk to the republic.” Additionally, she expressed that Trump’s policies, including tariffs and an isolationist approach to foreign affairs, contradicted conservatism.
She had particularly critical remarks for Haley, who ran against Trump in the Republican primary and pointed out many of the same flaws in his character, policies, and actions that Cheney has, yet has since pledged to do everything possible to aid in his election.
“I cannot comprehend her stance on this in any principled context,” Cheney said. “The assertions she made clear during her primary campaign are accurate.”
Haley conducted her own interview with CBS News on Sunday, stating that her support for Trump was based on policy considerations.
“I don’t need to like him or agree with him 100% of the time to see that life for Americans would improve under policies that emphasize strong immigration, law and order, and a robust economy with abundant opportunities, and strong national security,” she mentioned. “I don’t have to personally like someone to recognize that those policies are superior.”
Haley conceded that she did not view Trump as a suitable candidate, noting she would not have chosen to run if she did. However, she maintained that the choice between him and Harris was straightforward for her, adding, “These are the candidates we have.”
Recent days have seen several notable Republicans distancing themselves from Trump, even as a large majority of Republican voters and officials continue to rally behind him. Jimmy McCain, son of John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate, criticized the Trump campaign last week for an altercation with a worker at Arlington National Cemetery and announced his intention to support Harris.
On Saturday, the office of former President George W. Bush stated he would not endorse either candidate, saying, “President Bush retired from presidential politics years ago.”
There are no other living former Republican presidents. The three living former Democratic presidents — Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter — are backing Harris.
Cheney’s opposition to Trump has been well-documented — she was part of the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, and her dissent led to her losing the Republican primary. However, she had not previously made it clear whether she would support Harris, a third-party candidate, or a write-in, as some other anti-Trump Republicans, like Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, have suggested they might choose to do.
In response to requests for comments on Sunday, Trump’s campaign referred to a social media post in which Trump stated, “Dick Cheney is an irrelevant RINO, along with his daughter.”
