White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki weighed in on House Republicans’ decision to remove Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) from her leadership position Wednesday, echoing words that President Joe Biden said last week.
“Our democracy was attacked and six people lost their lives,” Psaki said at a press briefing. “It’s disturbing to see any leader, regardless of party, being attacked for simply speaking the truth. And as the president said last week, it is hard to understand.”
“But our belief, [President Biden’s] belief, is the American people will have to make their own decisions about whether the reaction by the people they elected to represent them should be embracing and elevating conspiracies and attacks on our democracy, or whether it should be standing up for ideals that have historically been owned by both Democrats and Republicans representing the country throughout history,” she added.
Biden was asked about the escalating tensions between Cheney and Republican leadership last week.
According to a tweet put out by CSPAN, Biden was asked, “Do you have any comments on the efforts to oust Liz Cheney from the House Republican leadership post?”
Biden responded, “I don’t understand the Republicans” before ducking into his Secret Service vehicle.
Q: "What did you get?"
President Biden: "Tacos and some enchiladas."
Q: "Do you have any comments on the efforts to oust Liz Cheney from the House Republican leadership post?"@POTUS: "I don't understand the Republicans." pic.twitter.com/ZWrOcPhlsb
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 5, 2021
As reported in an analysis by The Daily Wire, Cheney reignited calls for her resignation from GOP leadership after tweeting about the January 6 riot at the Capitol.
“The 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system,” she tweeted.
The Daily Wire reported that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) wrote a letter to Republican House members on Monday informing them that there would be a vote to remove Cheney from her position as Conference Chair because change is “need[ed],” since Cheney, who is in charge of the party’s messaging, is focused on “relitigating the past.”
In the letter, obtained by The Daily Wire, McCarthy said that he is humbled and honored to lead Republican House members and that those in leadership need to put the interests of the team above their own interests.
Cheney was removed from her position on Wednesday by voice vote.
The Daily Wire reported:
“We must go forward based on truth. We cannot both embrace the big lie and embrace the Constitution,” Cheney proclaimed. “The nation needs it. The nation needs a strong Republican Party. The nation needs a party that that is based upon fundamental principles of conservatism. And I am committed and dedicated to ensuring that that’s how this party goes forward. And I plan to lead the fight to do that.”
When asked how concerned she was that former President Donald Trump might end back up in the Oval Office and what she was prepared to do to prevent that, Cheney responded, “I will do everything I can to ensure that the former president never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office.”
“We have seen the danger that he continues to provoke with his language,” Cheney continued. “We have seen his lack of commitment and dedication to the Constitution. And I think it’s very important that we make sure whomever we elect is somebody who will be faithful to the Constitution.”