In a statement Monday, Trump named Cheney a "warmonger" with "virtually no support left in the Great State of Wyoming," and repeated his past false statements that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Cheney has repeatedly pushed back on Trump's false statements about the election. Trump also endorsed Stefanik in a separate statement.
"Liz Cheney is a warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership," Trump stated. "We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritize the values of America First. Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!"
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Stefanik, R-N.Y., has been making calls to rack up support for a challenge to Cheney, R-Wyo., Fox News confirmed this week. She has gained the support of top House Republicans as well, including Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La.
"House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022 and fighting against Speaker Pelosi and President Biden's radical socialist agenda, and Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for Conference Chair," Scalise spokesperson Lauren Fine told Fox News.
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A House GOP leadership source told Fox News that a vote next week on Cheney's status as the conference chair is "more than likely."
"Liz will have more to say in the coming days. This moment is about much more than a House leadership fight," Cheney spokesperson Jeremy Adler told Fox News Wednesday.
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If Cheney is removed, there would be a separate vote to elect a new conference chair, for which Stefanik is likely to be nominated. Others could be nominated as well. But two Stefanik's potential opponents, Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., won't run to succeed Cheney if she is removed, Fox News is told.
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Cheney and Trump have for years been relatively cool to each other, as the former president ran in 2016 as a non-establishment Republican who is different from the GOP of the Bush-Cheney era. But the rift between the two exploded after Trump's false statements that the 2020 election was stolen and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
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An aide for a moderate Senate Republican reportedly told Fox News that it is unclear what Cheney's end game is as she continues to battle with Trump over the election.
Others on the right, however, have backed Cheney, including prominent conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt and the Wall Street Journal editorial board.
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