Former GOP Congresswoman Liz Cheney, having recently lost her 2022 Republican primary, is sounding an urgent alarm about the potential consequences of a Donald Trump reelection, asserting that it could spell the demise of the American republic.
Cheney, now immersed in academia, lecturing on politics at the University of Virginia and on the cusp of releasing her upcoming book titled “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning,” scheduled for release on Tuesday by Little, Brown, sat down for an exclusive interview with CBS News on December 3.
Expressing the difficulty of raising awareness in a climate accustomed to political tumult, Cheney underscored the ongoing threat posed by Trump’s persistent efforts to overturn the last election. With Trump emerging as the favored GOP presidential candidate, election denial becoming a political stance, and prominent Republicans embracing election conspiracies, Cheney emphasized the need for a collective wake-up call. She argued that the normalization of extreme rhetoric and attacks on political adversaries has desensitized the public to genuine threats, stating, “When you face something that really is dire, like we are facing today with respect to Donald Trump and his efforts to unravel the republic, people become numb to the truth.”
Responding to questions about conservatism in the current political landscape, Cheney maintained that fidelity to the Constitution remains the core conservative value. She criticized those ensnared in the “cult of personality,” asserting that such devotion contradicts conservative principles. Drawing a clear distinction between supporting Trump and upholding the Constitution, Cheney declared, “You can’t both be for Donald Trump and for the Constitution. You have to choose.”
The interview delved into Cheney’s book, where she detailed events following the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. As one of the few House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, Cheney found herself isolated within her party. Joining the committee investigating the attack, she condemned her Republican colleagues for defending the indefensible. Cheney highlighted what she sees as a dangerous path taken by Trump’s allies, including newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, whom she accused of operating in a way that ignored facts, court rulings, and the Constitution to fulfill Trump’s wishes. In response, Johnson’s office dismissed her book’s portrayal as inaccurate.
Expressing concern for the future, especially in the face of the 2024 election, Cheney remained open to political possibilities, stating she is “not ruling anything in or out” regarding a 2024 presidential run. She voiced a preference for a Democratic majority in 2025, asserting that the current choices made by the Republican Party pose a threat to democratic principles.
Cheney concluded with a grave warning, asserting that Trump is employing fascist techniques and urging vigilance to prevent a potential descent into dictatorship in the United States.
