Trump Meeting With GOP Candidates Challenging Rep. Liz Cheney

Former President Donald Trump prepares to speak during the Conservative Political Action Conference CPAC held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas on July 11, 2021. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump plans to meet with Republicans challenging Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) soon.

Cheney, 54, has held Wyoming’s only seat in the House of Representatives since 2017. But she drew criticism for voting to impeach Trump—Trump was ultimately acquitted—and was ousted as the House Republican Conference chair in May.

Trump said Tuesday that he is “paying close attention” to the primary race, adding that some pollsters have told him that Cheney will lose after supporting the effort to impeach him.

“This is a ‘hot’ race with some very interesting candidates running against her,' Trump said.

“Remember though, in the end we just want ONE CANDIDATE running against Cheney. I'll be meeting with some of her opponents in Bedminster next week and will be making my decision on who to endorse in the next few months. JUST ONE CANDIDATE. Thank you!”

Cheney faces a number of challengers, including state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, state Rep. Chuck Gray, attorney Darin Smith, and Marissa Selvig, former mayor of the town of Pavillion.

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) talks to reporters after House Republicans voted to remove her as conference chair in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center in Washington on May 12, 2021. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Bouchard told The Epoch Times that he had not yet received an invitation to meet with Trump.

“I wholeheartedly agree with President Trump’s statement that we are stronger against Liz Cheney with one candidate,” he said via email.

“President Trump’s initial meeting with a handful of my opponents will be to get them to reconsider their candidacies because they simply don’t have the grassroots support needed to take on the Cheney machine. The weeding out process needs to begin now—starting with the weakest candidates—to give Wyoming conservatives our best shot of defeating Liz Cheney in 2022.”

A spokesperson for Selvig’s campaign said via email that she has not been invited either.

Selvig has not promised to endorse whomever Trump endorses.

“Mrs. Selvig will not hand over her ability to think to the party, and she does not make promises on a whim because she believes in integrity. Marissa wants what’s best for the people of Wyoming and for the future of our nation,” the spokesperson said in an email. “Marissa does agree with Mr. Trump that narrowing down the field is wise, but also is not afraid of Representative Cheney. She has her doubts that Rep. Cheney will ultimately run in this race here in WY, and is focusing her campaign on issues rather than on Cheney as the other candidates are doing.”

The primary will take place next year before the Nov. 8, 2022, general election.

Republicans have long held the seat and the primary winner is expected to win the seat.

Cheney responded to Trump’s announcement, telling reporters in Washington, “The people of Wyoming are gonna have a very clear choice between somebody who is loyal to the Constitution, and somebody whose claim is loyalty to Donald Trump and I’m confident that people will make the right decision.”