Cheney tests Trump’s grip on GOP after presidency

representative Liz cheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn Cheney For Biden, Senate Trial Could Help Bipartism Over COVID Relief McCarthy argues Cheney remains in charge as he asked him to resign Budowsky: Democracy won, Trump lost, President Biden inaugurated MORE(R-Wyo.) ‘S leadership position in the GOP House turns into a test for President TrumpIranian leader vows ‘revenge’, posting Trump-like image Former Sanders spokesperson: Biden ‘pulls out’ from ‘populist offers’ Justice Department to investigate sudden departure of US lawyer in Atlanta after Trump criticism MOREthe grip of the conference and the Republican Party.

Trump allies are seeking to remove Cheney from her role as Speaker of the House Republican Conference in her vote last week to impeach the president for inciting a mob to attack the Capitol.

representative Matt GaetzMatthew (Matt) Gaetz Florida Republicans close ranks with Trump after Capitol siege The Memo: Landmark vote leaves Trump more isolated than ever Republican top Congressional adviser resigns, tears GOP lawmakers who opposed the victory of Biden PLUS (R-Fla.), A fierce critic of Cheney and one of Trump’s staunchest supporters, said having him at the helm of GOP messaging was “problematic” for the base built by Trump.

“I think it’s problematic for the future of the Republican Party,” Gaetz told The Hill. “Liz Cheney represents a vision of the Republican Party that does not energize anyone outside of Washington, DC, Beltway.”

A number of prominent conservatives who chose not to join Cheney on impeachment nonetheless support her, starting an internal fight within the House GOP for her future.

Removing Cheney from leadership would require a high threshold in which a two-thirds majority of the conference would have to agree to hold a vote as a step in a complicated procedure. Still, it likely foreshadows a tough primary for Cheney, who will likely be Trump’s target in 2022.

If Cheney survives, it will be a big victory for her – and a big loss for Trump, perhaps signaling a weakening of his power over GOP politics.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney’s daughter was one of 10 Republicans to vote to impeach Trump earlier this month, and she was one of the few GOP lawmakers to criticize the former president during his tenure , often rejecting major foreign policy proposals. and occasionally calling out his rhetoric.

Trump fought back regularly, saying as recently as January 6, just before the murderous siege on Capitol Hill, that “we need to get rid of the weak members of Congress, the bad ones, the Liz Cheneys of the world.”

If Cheney is able to keep her leadership position, her opponents, including Trump, could still sue her by supporting her main challenger this election cycle.

Wyoming State Senator Anthony Bouchard (right) announced after Cheney’s impeachment vote that he would do so challenge her in 2022.

Cheney fended off a main challenger in 2018, winning 68% of the vote. Trump won Wyoming last year by nearly 44 percentage points.

“She could be an indicator,” said a GOP member, referring to Cheney’s reelection bid. “I don’t know how it’s going to be. I mean, it’s still too early.

Lawmakers have said that despite private grievances against Trump among many Republicans in Washington, the former president remains popular in many of their districts.

“I think there are a lot of people back home – when you look at the polls and you look at the intensity – people hear from their grassroots always strong support for the president. But when you’re here, most of my colleagues here are disgusted with the way the president behaved, ”the lawmaker said, citing the treatment of Trump by the former vice president. Mike penceMichael (Mike) Richard Pence A Day in Photos: Grand Opening Biden Sanders Takes Control of the Internet Harris Moves to the Residence of the Delayed Vice President MORE and the decision to “give false hopes to his supporters” regarding the election results.

A recent Morning Consult survey found that 79% of Republican voters approve of Trump despite the Capitol seat.

The lawmaker went on to say that while much “of the party sees itself as pro-Trump,” other GOP members make a distinction and “consider themselves Republicans.”

“Over time, this could work more in Liz’s favor,” added the lawmaker.

Cheney’s allies note that the chair of Trump’s bullies has been weakened since major social media platforms like Twitter banned him following the insurgency on Capitol Hill that left five people dead, including a police officer from the Capitol.

But even without access to Twitter or Facebook, some members say Trump will find a way to stay relevant and influential.

“You are not going to keep Donald Trump locked up for very long. … He will find a way to communicate, especially with his staunch supporters across the country, ”said one lawmaker.

Another lawmaker said Trump’s influence was here to stay.

“This is where the Republican voters across America are located,” the lawmaker said. “And for them, the Trump agenda remains very popular and [they] don’t see it changing for a lifetime. “

Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) And First-Term Representative Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) Are leading the charge to oust Cheney, with two sources close to the effort saying they are over 115 Republicans claiming they will get him to vote for a resolution asking him to step down from leadership.

Cheney supporters have warned that ousting the GOP’s top woman in Congress could be detrimental to the swing seat victory next year and give Democrats something to grab as they seek to defend their majority skinny as a razor in mid-term.

“2020 was the year of the Republican woman. And how do Republican leaders reimburse these women? By letting the Freedom Caucus fire the only female executive to the curb for doing what she thought was right, ”said a Republican aide.

“If McCarthy lets this happen, it just shows that he has just been completely sterilized by the Freedom Caucus. And this is the fastest way to ensure that he absolutely does not get the hammer on January 3, 2023, ”she said, referring to the House minority leader. Kevin mccarthyKevin McCarthy McCarthy backs Cheney who stays in charge as she asks him to step down 12:30 p.m. report from The Hill: Biden takes over at COVID Biden inauguration marked by conflict of hope and fear MORE (R-Calif.).

McCarthy, who was among more than 100 Republicans who opposed the Arizona and Pennsylvania election results, said this week that he supports Cheney to remain in his leadership position.

It also received public support from representatives of GOP. Tom coleThomas (Tom) Jeffrey ColeGOP Lawmaker Drops Honorary College Degree Following Electoral College Vote LIVE COVER: House votes to impeach Trump after Capitol Insurrection House passes measure calling on Pence to remove Trump MORE (Ok so.), And CrenshawDaniel CrenshawK Street Navigates Virtual Inauguration Week Wyoming County Votes to Censor Liz Cheney for Trump Impeachment Vote GOP Divided Over Liz Cheney’s Future MORE (Texas), Mike GallagherMichael (Mike) John GallagherHouse Endorses Waiver for Biden’s Pentagon Candidate ‘I Saw My Life Flashing Before My Eyes’: An Oral History of the Attack on Capitol Hill GOP Lawmaker on Protesters Taking in storming the Capitol: ‘I haven’t seen anything like it since my deployment to Iraq’ MORE (Wis.), John katkoJohn Michael Katko Rep. John Katko: Why I became the first Republican lawmaker to support impeachment New York Republican says cybersecurity will be a high priority for Homeland Security panel Upton becomes first congressman to vote to impeach two presidents MORE (NEW YORK), Adam kinzingerAdam Daniel KinzingerBudowsky: Democracy Wins, Trump Loses, President Biden Inaugurates Upton Becomes First Congressman to Vote to Impeach Two Presidents The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump impeached again; Now what? MORE (Bad.), Nancy MaceNancy MaceCheney tests Trump’s grip on the GOP after presidency Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman escorts Kamala Harris to the nomination Lawmakers introduce a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the ‘Capitol Police Officer PLUS (SC) and Michael mccaulMichael Thomas McCaul, US Ambassador to Israel, briefly Twitter West Bank, Gaza Biden urged to reverse Pompeo-Trump ruling on Houthi Kremlin critic Navalny detained in Moscow upon his return to Russia MORE (Texas).

Critics say Cheney gave Democrats momentum when she spoke out against Electoral College challenges and announced her position on impeachment ahead of the vote. Two GOP lawmakers said the actions amounted to throwing most of the conference “under the bus.”

Cheney rejected calls for his resignation.

“I foresee and have confidence that we will be united as a conference in the future. We recognize how important it is to make sure we stand up and fight against the policies of the Biden administration, the policies that we know are going to be very damaging to the country, ”she said on Fox Thursday. News.

A Republican lawmaker, who expects Cheney to remain in his leadership position, argued that despite efforts to oust him, efforts are already underway from people like the minority leader in the Senate. Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Trump chooses South Carolina lawyer for impeachment trial McConnell suggests postponing impeachment trial until February For Biden, Senate trial could help bipartisanship around COVID PLUS relief (R-Ky.) To create some distance of Trump.

“I think you see a very concerted effort by some Republicans like McConnell, like Liz Cheney, trying to move the party in the right direction away from the president. Because you know, at the end of the day, he wasn’t an asset in the last election. It was a drag on the party.