Wyoming Republican Representative Liz Cheney has ramped up her attacks on Republican former President Donald Trump as she continues to criticize his baseless claims that he lost the 2020 presidential election due to widespread voter fraud.
Their latest feud began when Trump released a press statement on Monday proclaiming, "The Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020 will be, from this day forth, known as THE BIG LIE!"
In response, Cheney wrote via Twitter, "The 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system."
The 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) May 3, 2021
Trump then seemingly responded to Cheney's remarks in a Monday afternoon statement, writing, "Heartwarming to read new polls on big-shot warmonger Liz Cheney of the great State of Wyoming. She is so low that her only chance would be if vast numbers of people run against her which, hopefully, won't happen. They never liked her much, but I say she'll never run in a Wyoming election again!"
Then, on Monday afternoon, Cheney criticized Trump by name and warned the Republican party about being a "cult of personality."
"We can't rebuild the party or the conservative movement on a foundation of lies. We can't embrace the notion the election is stolen," Cheney said. "It's a poison in the bloodstream of our democracy. The way we win back suburban voters and keep all who voted for us in 2020 is with ideas and policy. We can't be a cult of personality."
"We can't whitewash what happened on January 6th or perpetuate Trump's big lie," she continued. "It is a threat to democracy. What he did on January 6 is a line that cannot be crossed."
She reportedly made the comments at an American Enterprise Institute event with Republican former House Speaker Paul Ryan, according to CNN.
Cheney has long been a vocal opponent of Trump. She and nine other Republican representatives voted in favor of Trump's second impeachment. She said that Trump "assembled the mob" and "lit the flame" that caused the January 6 Capitol insurrection seeking to overturn the election's results.
In February, Cheney survived a 145-61 vote amongst House Republicans to remove her from party leadership. At the time, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy defended Cheney and urged House Republicans not to oust her from her role as the highest-ranking Republican woman in Congress.
However, McCarthy has reportedly considered Cheney's continued attacks on Trump as a distraction from the party. He has more recently refused either to appear alongside Cheney in public or to say whether she should remain in leadership.
Newsweek contacted Cheney's office for comment.
