US House Republicans have voted in favour of ousting fellow lawmaker Liz Cheney from the chair of the House Republican Conference – a top party office. The behind-closed-door meeting lasted under 20 minutes before participants decided to vote on the matter.
In the wake of the decision, Cheney gave an address with renewed criticism of former Republican President Donald Trump – something that arguably cost her the top party office today. She vowed to do everything in her power to prevent Trump from returning to the Oval Office and argued that the party can't be "dragged backward" by the ex-POTUS’ "dangerous lies".
"Remaining silent and ignoring the lie emboldens the liar. I will not sit back and watch in silence while others lead our party down a path that abandons the rule of law and joins the former president's crusade to undermine our democracy", Cheney said in her address to the House a day prior to the vote.
Trump too was quick to comment on Cheney's removal from the prominent GOP post, praising the decision by House Republicans. He suggested the congresswoman was "bad" for the party and predicted she'll be out of politics in the near future, serving as a "paid contributor on CNN or MSDNC [sic]" instead.
"Liz Cheney is a bitter, horrible human being. I watched her yesterday and realized how bad she is for the Republican Party. She has no personality or anything good having to do with politics or our Country. She is a talking point for Democrats, whether that means the Border, the gas lines, inflation, or destroying our economy", Trump said.
It is unclear so far when or who the House GOP members will elect as the new chair. In the past, Trump touted House Republican for New York's 21st congressional district, Elise Stefanik as a replacement for "poor leader, a major Democrat talking point [and] a warmonger", Cheney. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise also endorsed Stefanik as a candidate for the office a week ago.
Cheney's ouster is believed to be linked to her repeated criticism of Donald Trump, who remains an influential figure in the GOP even after his departure from the Oval Office, and more importantly to her decision to support Democrats' second impeachment against then-Republican President in January 2021.
Trump criticised the few Republicans who voted against him in the second impeachment and announced efforts to support alternative GOP candidates in order to remove "disloyal" RINOs (short for Republican In Name Only) from Congress in the coming electoral cycles.