Politics

Liz Cheney Echoes Father’s Criticism of Trump as ‘Coward’ Following Pence’s Refusal to Endorse

By Jake Beardslee · March 16, 2024

Former Vice President Mike Pence has decided not to endorse his former running mate Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Pence cited significant differences with Trump’s political agenda as the reason for withholding his endorsement.

“It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year,” Pence stated on Fox News. “During my presidential campaign, I made it clear that there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues.” He added, “Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. And that’s why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign.”

Pence’s decision drew a reaction from Liz Cheney, a former Republican congresswoman from Wyoming. When conservative lawyer George Conway asked Cheney if she knew of any other former GOP vice presidents opposing Trump, she responded “As a matter of fact I do,” sharing a video clip of her father Dick Cheney voicing firm opposition to Trump.

In the clip, the former vice president under George W. Bush declared, “In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump. He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. He is a coward. A real man wouldn’t lie to his supporters. He lost his election, and he lost big. I know it. He knows it, and deep down, I think most Republicans know.”

The video originated from Cheney’s 2022 re-election campaign ad against the Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman, who went on to defeat Cheney in the Republican primary.