In an extraordinary bow to former President Trump
Donald TrumpKinzinger, Gaetz get in back-and-forth on Twitter over Cheney vote READ: Liz Cheney's speech on the House floor Cheney in defiant floor speech: Trump on 'crusade to undermine our democracy' MORE, House Republicans voted Wednesday to purge GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyKinzinger, Gaetz get in back-and-forth on Twitter over Cheney vote READ: Liz Cheney's speech on the House floor Cheney in defiant floor speech: Trump on 'crusade to undermine our democracy' MORE from her leadership post, punishing the conservative Wyoming Republican for daring to refute Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
The decision was made by voice vote, meaning there will be no tally of the lawmakers who voted to dump Cheney, or of those who wanted her to stay on. Sources inside the closed-door vote said it was an overwhelming vote against Cheney. Some guessed the split was three to one.
That represents a remarkable shift from a similar challenge to her leadership status in February, when she won handily. And it marked the first time in recent memory that a congressional GOP leader was toppled by rank-and-file Republicans in the middle of their term through a formal vote.
Trump was not on Wednesday’s ballot, but he was the elephant in the room as Cheney’s colleagues voted to condemn her for what has become an unpardonable sin in today’s Republican Party: calling out the former president for his repeated falsehoods about his election defeat.
“You can't have a conference chair who recites Democrat talking points,” Rep. Jim Jordan
James (Jim) Daniel JordanJordan says 'votes are there' to oust Cheney from GOP leadership Republicans float support for antitrust reform after Trump Facebook ban upheld Facebook board decision on Trump ban pleases no one MORE (R-Ohio), former head of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and a close Trump ally, said after the vote.
Yet not all conservatives agreed.
Rep. Ken Buck
Kenneth (Ken) Robert BuckCheney in defiant floor speech: Trump on 'crusade to undermine our democracy' Hillicon Valley: Trump's Facebook ban to stay in place, board rules | Facebook board's Trump decision pleases no one | Republicans float support for antitrust reform Republicans float support for antitrust reform after Trump Facebook ban upheld MORE (R-Colo.), another Freedom Caucus member, was a rare conservative supporting Cheney. A sharp critic of "cancel culture," Buck warned after the vote that Republicans likely alienated voters who agree with Cheney's criticisms of Trump — or at least her right to air them from a position of leadership.
"Liz didn't agree with President Trump's narrative and she was cancelled," Buck said. "We have to deal with this narrative at some point. There are major issues — the border, spending — there are major issues. But to suggest that the American people in 2022 won't consider the fact that we were unwilling to stand up to a narrative that the election was stolen, I think will be taken into consideration with their vote."
Less than 30 minutes before the GOP gathering, Trump weighed in with another broadside against Cheney, accusing her of promoting unnecessary wars in a message that paved the way for Republicans to oust her shortly afterward. After the vote, he attacked Cheney again in a highly personal message characterizing her as a “warmonger.”
“She has no personality or anything good having to do with politics or our Country,” Trump said in a brief statement.
Amid all the attacks, Cheney has not backed down.
“I will do everything I can to ensure that the former president never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office,” Cheney said before a bank of television cameras after the vote.
And in a speech on the House floor Tuesday night, a defiant Cheney made clear that her ouster won’t stop her from speaking out against Trump’s ongoing efforts to sow doubt about President Biden
Joe BidenKinzinger, Gaetz get in back-and-forth on Twitter over Cheney vote Cheney in defiant floor speech: Trump on 'crusade to undermine our democracy' US officials testify on domestic terrorism in wake of Capitol attack MORE’s victory and undermine the election system.
She repeated that same message in a speech to GOP colleagues on Wednesday, just moments before they cast her out.
“If you want leaders who will enable and spread [Trump’s] destructive lies, I’m not your person, you have plenty of others to choose from. That will be their legacy,” Cheney said inside the room, according to a source.
She then asked her colleagues to pray with her for the protection of American democracy, and recited Scripture: “Help us to speak the truth and remember the words of John 8:32. ‘Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.’”
Cheney’s rebuke was a clear shot at Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthyHouse fails to pass drug bill amid Jan. 6 tensions READ: Liz Cheney's speech on the House floor Cheney in defiant floor speech: Trump on 'crusade to undermine our democracy' MORE (R-Calif.), who wants to be Speaker and has made the determination that Republicans cannot flip control of the House without Trump’s support.
In a letter to colleagues this week, McCarthy said removing Cheney from the No. 3 leadership post was necessary to resolve “internal conflicts” that have distracted and divided Republicans as they focus on winning back the majority in 2022.
With Wednesday’s vote, Republicans are now “very unified,” Rep. Ben Cline
Benjamin (Ben) Lee ClineVirginia GOP set for wild, unpredictable convention Garland emphasizes national security, civil rights in budget hearing NIH reverses Trump administration's ban on fetal tissue research MORE (R-Va.) told The Hill. “We have a diverse conference with diverse views; we celebrate that. And we look to our leadership for our messaging, and we don’t want to distract from that message.”
Even so, there were signs of Republican fissures everywhere. Cheney’s allies have rushed to her defense, warning that ousting the political scion for the crime of truth-telling would send a terrible message to voters that the GOP favors Trump over election integrity.
“Kevin McCarthy (an employee of Donald Trump) may win ... but history won’t be kind,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger
Adam Daniel KinzingerKinzinger, Gaetz get in back-and-forth on Twitter over Cheney vote Cheney set to be face of anti-Trump GOP Overnight Defense: US fires 30 warning shots at Iranian boats | Kabul attack heightens fears of Afghan women's fates | Democratic Party leaders push Biden on rejoining Iran deal MORE (R-Ill.), who’s emerged as Cheney’s most vocal backer, tweeted Tuesday night. “Never has our party gone after it’s own leadership like this, but Kevin and Steve Scalise
Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseCheney in defiant floor speech: Trump on 'crusade to undermine our democracy' Graham warns about trying to 'drive' Trump from GOP: 'Half the people will leave' Cheney set to be face of anti-Trump GOP MORE made history, because Trump has thin skin. I’d be embarrassed if I was them.”
Kevin McCarthy (an employee of Donald Trump) may win tomorrow, but history won’t be kind. Never has our party gone after it’s own leadership like this, but Kevin and Steve Scalise made history, because Trump has thin skin. I’d be embarrassed if I was them https://t.co/qHxlSR4LDx
— Adam Kinzinger (@AdamKinzinger) May 12, 2021
There is also a looming GOP fight over who will fill Cheney’s shoes as the No. 3 House Republican.
One of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for provoking the Jan. 6 attack, Cheney is expected to be replaced by moderate Rep. Elise Stefanik
Elise Marie StefanikCheney in defiant floor speech: Trump on 'crusade to undermine our democracy' Graham warns about trying to 'drive' Trump from GOP: 'Half the people will leave' Cheney set to be face of anti-Trump GOP MORE (R-N.Y.), a Trump loyalist, by the end of the week. However, some conservatives are balking at the GOP leadership’s handpicked successor, warning that Stefanik is much too liberal to represent the 212-member conference.
Her critics point to her vote against Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and her opposition to several GOP border security bills that Trump had favored.
“We must avoid putting in charge Republicans who campaign as Republicans but then vote for and advance the Democrats’ agenda once sworn in,” Rep. Chip RoyCharles (Chip) Eugene RoyRepublican says Stefanik not conservative enough to be GOP leader Five takeaways on the House's return to budget earmarks Hillicon Valley: Tech companies duke it out at Senate hearing | Seven House Republicans vow to reject donations from Big Tech MORE (R-Texas), a member of the Freedom Caucus, wrote to his GOP colleagues.
“Therefore, with all due respect to my friend, Elise Stefanik, let us contemplate the message Republican leadership is about to send by rushing to coronate a spokesperson whose voting record embodies much of what led to the 2018 ass-kicking we received by Democrats.”
On Tuesday, Roy declined to name his preferred choice for conference chair but advocated for Republicans to take some time to allow for internal negotiations over whether Stefanik is the right choice.
“I think we oughtn't rush it,” Roy told reporters in the Capitol. “We've got an agenda that we need to build to make sure the American people are following our ideas.”
Roy and other conservatives have said it might be wise to just keep Cheney’s post vacant, a move that would allow Cheney’s deputy, House Republican Conference Vice Chairman Mike Johnson
James (Mike) Michael JohnsonCheney GOP conference deputy has complained about 'coronation' of Stefanik: report Loyalty trumps policy in Stefanik's rise, Cheney's fall Gender politics hound GOP in Cheney drama MORE (La.), to assume the role of chief messenger for the House GOP for the next two years.
“I've expressed some of the same concerns” about Stefanik’s voting record, Johnson told reporters. “I think a deliberate effort would serve the conference well and all involved. I've been on record saying that I don't think we should rush such an important decision.”
Other conservatives have thrown their weight behind Stefanik, praising both her communications skills and her role defending Trump during his first impeachment.
“She's got the support of the president, the support of the leader, support of the whip,” Jordan told reporters outside the Capitol. “And I think she's probably going to be the next conference chair, don't you?”
