In a significant political shift, former Vice President Dick Cheney, a lifelong Republican, announced on Friday that he will be voting for the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, in the upcoming November presidential election. Cheney’s decision stems from his deep concerns about former President Donald Trump, the current Republican nominee.
In his statement, Cheney declared, “In our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who poses a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.” He accused Trump of attempting to overturn the previous election through “lies and violence” after being rejected by voters, adding, “He can never be trusted with power again.”
Cheney emphasized the importance of prioritizing the nation over party loyalty, stating, “As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our constitution. That is why I will be casting my vote for Vice-President Kamala Harris.”
Liz Cheney, Dick Cheney’s daughter and a staunch critic of Trump, revealed her father’s endorsement during an onstage interview at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. When asked by Mark Leibovich of the Atlantic, Liz Cheney said, “Dick Cheney will be voting for Kamala Harris,” which was met with applause from the audience.
When approached for a comment, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed the matter, asking, “Who is Liz Cheney?”
Both Dick and Liz Cheney have been vocal opponents of Trump, particularly during Liz Cheney’s unsuccessful bid for re-election in 2022. During that campaign, Dick Cheney appeared in an ad supporting his daughter, where he labeled Trump a “coward.” However, this endorsement had little impact in Wyoming, a state that remains firmly pro-Trump. Liz Cheney ultimately lost her Republican primary by a two-to-one margin to Trump-endorsed candidate Harriet Hageman.
Dick Cheney, now 83, has made few public appearances in recent years and was notably absent from Friday’s endorsement announcement. In response to the Cheneys’ latest statements, Trump dismissed them as “irrelevant RINO’s” in a social media post, using the term “Republican’s in Name Only” to describe Republicans who do not align with his views.