Top Republican, Liz Cheney, out over anti-Trump stance

Republicans have voted to oust the party’s number three Liz Cheney over her strong opposition to former President Donald Trump as Democrats slammed the “disturbing” decision.

Liz Cheney has been removed from her leadership position after she become a target for former President Donald Trump and his followers. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Republicans cemented their support for ousted president Donald Trump as they stripped one of his most strident critics from her leadership role.

Former number three Republican Liz Cheney vowed to continue to fight Mr Trump’s ongoing claims of election fraud and to hold him “accountable” for the January 6 Capitol raid by his supporters.

“I will do everything I can to ensure that the former president never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office,” Ms Cheney said after the Wednesday morning US time) vote that removed her as House Republican Chair.

Former GOP Chair Liz Cheney has been a strident opponent of former President Donald Trump. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

“We have seen the danger that he continues to provoke with his language. We have seen his lack of commitment and dedication to the Constitution.”

Ms Cheney, who voted in January to impeach Mr Trump, declared her ouster threatened the Republican party’s future.

“We cannot let the former president drag us backward and make us complicit in his efforts to unravel our democracy,” Ms Cheney said.

“Down that path lies our destruction, and potentially the destruction of our country.”

The vote was clear retribution for Ms Cheney’s attacks on Mr Trump and highlighted his continuing power over the Republican establishment.

Her most likely replacement in Elise Stefanik is a prominent Trump-backer who immediately vowed to unite the party.

Donald Trump still has strong backing from the Republican Party. Picture: AFP

“Despite the media’s endless attempts to divide us, our members are united in our laser focus on defeating the radical Socialist Democrat agenda of President Biden and Speaker Pelosi,” Ms Stefanik said as she launched her bid to become chair of the Republican conference.

“Our members believe that the stakes are far too high for us to be divided.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder in believing that we have a historic opportunity to work as a team to win back the Majority in 2022 on behalf of the American people and save our great country.

It came after several attacks by Mr Trump on Ms Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney.

“Liz Cheney is a bitter, horrible human being,” he said in a statement ahead of the vote.

“She has no personality or anything good having to do with politics or our Country. She is a talking point for Democrats, whether that means the Border, the gas lines, inflation, or destroying our economy.

Liz Cheney speaks to reporters after she was removed from her position as GOP Chair. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

“She is a warmonger whose family stupidly pushed us into the never-ending Middle East Disaster, draining our wealth and depleting our Great Military, the worst decision in our Country’s history.

“I look forward to soon watching her as a Paid Contributor on CNN or MSDNC!”

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki reacted to the ouster of Ms Cheney calling the decision “disturbing” without naming the former GOP Chair specifically.

“Our nation’s Capitol was attacked, our democracy was attacked, and six people lost their lives. So it’s disturbing to see any leader, regardless of party, being attacked for simply speaking the truth,” Ms Psaki said.

Trump loyalist Elise Stefanik has replaced Liz Cheney as GOP Chair. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

She framed the moment as a choice between conspiracy theories and standing for long-held American ideals.

“And as the President said last week, it’s hard to understand. But our belief, his belief, is that 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 conspiracy theories 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 said.