Inside Liz Cheney’s plan to take on former president Donald Trump
Rep. Liz Cheney lost her House leadership position Wednesday, but she aims to become an even more influential political figure capable of weakening former president Trump’s hold on their party — and continuing to push for his purge.
Rather than focusing on whipping votes to save her job as conference chair, the Wyoming Republican has drafted plans for increased travel and media appearances, such as an interview Wednesday on NBC’s “Today Show,” meant to drive home her case that Trump is unfit for a role in the Republican Party or as the nation’s leader were he to run in 2024, according to a person briefed on the plans.
She also is considering an expanded political operation that would allow her to endorse and financially support other Republican candidates who share her view of the danger she thinks Trump poses to the Republican Party and the country, the person said.
Cheney has told allies that she is determined to run for reelection, despite a recent censure resolution from her state’s Republican Party, and plans to debate all comers across Wyoming about Trump’s denial of the 2020 election results and role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. She described her removal from leadership Wednesday as “the opening salvo” in a battle for the soul of the party and the country. [Continue reading…]