House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Sunday endorsed Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to replace Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wy., in the No. 3 House Republican leadership position.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Oh., said that House Republicans could vote as early as Wednesday to remove Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney.
In an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, McCarthy announced his support for Stefanik as the House Republican Conference Chair, Becker News reported.
“We want to be united in moving forward, and I think that is what will take place,” McCarthy said when asked about having the votes to remove Cheney.
McCarthy made hot-mic comments last week that indicated his waning tolerance for Cheney’s constant criticism of Republicans.
“I think she’s got real problems,” McCarthy said before a Fox & Friends appearance. “I’ve had it with … I’ve had it with her. You know, I’ve lost confidence. … Well, someone just has to bring a motion, but I assume that will probably take place.”
Trump endorsed Stefanik on May 5 in a post on his Save America website.
“Liz Cheney is a warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership,” Trump wrote. “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!”
McCarthy said the conference chair needs to focus “day in and day out” on the President Joe Biden’s radical and incompetent administration rather than bashing the former Republican president.
Cheney has criticized Republicans who stand by Trump’s well-documented claims that Democrats stolen the presidential election.
She accused Republicans of “spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.”
In an opinion essay Wednesday in The Washington Post, she condemned the “dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality.”
She told Republicans not to support Trump “for fundraising and political purposes,” even though she has defended endless African and Middle Eastern wars for fundraising and political purposes.
Includes reporting from the Associated Press.
