Cheney Says Replacing Her With Stefanik Is ‘Dangerous’

Stefanik: Cheney is 'looking backwards'

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) (L) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) are seen in file photographs in Washington. Reuters; Getty Images

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and her recent replacement as the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House made their cases for their brands of conservatism during interviews broadcast on May 17.

Cheney claimed the move by House Republicans to vote her out and install Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as House GOP Conference chair is “dangerous.”

“I think that we have to recognize how quickly things can unravel. We have to recognize what it means for the nation to have a former president who has not conceded and who continues to suggest that our electoral system cannot function, cannot do the will of the people,” she said.

Cheney was ousted on May 12 because of her increasingly critical comments about former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s messaging; House Republicans said she was distracting from their effort to flip the House and the Senate in 2022. Among other things, Cheney has said the party needs to move away from Trump following his claims about the 2020 election, while calling the former commander-in-chief “dangerous” and “anti-democratic.”

Two days later, the caucus voted in Stefanik, who served on Trump’s impeachment defense team.

Stefanik thanked Trump in her remarks after being voted a part of the House GOP leadership team, calling him “a critical part of our Republican team.”

In new interviews, Cheney denounced Stefanik as “wrong” and accused her of being complicit with Trump’s election claims. Stefanik responded by saying Cheney is “looking backward” while “Republicans are looking forward.”

President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House on Sept. 24, 2017. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

“We are unified and we are talking about conservative principles. President Trump is an important voice in the Republican Party. We are working as one team and voters across America, certainly voters in my district in upstate New York, we believe that President Trump’s results, whether it was the economic growth, whether it was the historic accords in the Middle East, whether it was being tough on China, or the bipartisan coronavirus relief packages—these were significant results that helped everyday Americans,” Stefanik said.

“We are focused on moving forward but also the stakes are so high. Look at how radical Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi’s policies have been. Joe Biden promised bipartisanship, we have yet to see any bipartisan legislation coming out of the Oval Office or the House. So I’m proud to represent the vast majority of Republicans. And that’s why we needed to make a change of House Conference chair.”

Moving forward, Stefanik’s support of Trump suggests she would back him if he chooses to run in 2024. Cheney, on the other hand, said she will do everything she can to make sure he’s not the GOP nominee for the third time.

“I will not support him and will do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen,” she said.

Cheney was speaking on ABC’s “This Week” and “Fox News Sunday,” while Stefanik spoke on Fox Business’s “Sunday Morning Futures.”