Is Trumpism Making a Comeback?… US Republicans Decide to Oust Anti-Trump Cheney

Vote to Replace Speaker at the Party Meeting on the 12th... Party Leadership Officially Supports Ouster
Conflict Intensifies Between Pro-Trump Mainstream and Non-Mainstream Factions Within the Party

Liz Cheney, Chair of the Republican House Conference
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives has officially supported the removal of Liz Cheney, the current third-ranking Republican Conference Chair. With Cheney, known as an anti-Trump figure, effectively confirmed to be ousted, there are expectations that the conflict between the mainstream and non-mainstream factions within the Republican Party surrounding former President Donald Trump could intensify.

According to foreign media including The Washington Post (WP) on the 9th (local time), Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy answered "yes" in an interview with Fox News when asked if he would support Representative Elise Stefanik as the next Conference Chair. This means that the top-ranking Republican in the House has officially backed Cheney's removal ahead of the party vote on replacing the Conference Chair scheduled for the 12th. Representative Stefanik has consistently aligned with former President Trump's stance, claiming that the last presidential election was fraudulent.

Republican Leadership Expresses No Confidence in Chairwoman Cheney

McCarthy explained the reason for Cheney's removal by saying, "As Conference Chair, she should serve as a messenger to unify the party and the country, but Cheney did not do so." His interpretation is that by voting in favor of impeaching former President Trump, Cheney betrayed not only the party's current sentiment but also the will of its core supporters.

Kevin McCarthy, U.S. House Republican Majority Leader
[Photo by AP]

Jim Banks, who leads the largest Republican caucus in the House known as the Republican Study Committee, also supported Cheney's ouster in an interview with Fox News on the same day, stating, "Republican leadership who cannot actively counter President Biden's agenda must be replaced."

Cheney currently ranks third after Minority Leader McCarthy and Majority Whip Steve Scalise. As the Chair of the Republican Conference, which includes all Republican members, she manages the Conference votes that elect the Minority Leader and presides over various meetings to discuss key Republican policies and legislative plans. Cheney is also the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who is regarded as one of the most powerful vice presidents in history and was the running mate of former President George W. Bush.

Earlier, Cheney voted in favor of the House impeachment resolution against former President Trump related to the January 6 Capitol riot. Since then, she has faced criticism from Trump and Republican supporters accusing her of betraying the president, and a movement to remove her from the third-ranking position has gained momentum.

Republicans Bowing to Trump... Voices Criticizing That It Will Lead to Self-Destruction

The fact that key Republican leaders including Minority Leader McCarthy have officially called for Cheney's removal is seen as a result of the party's inability to ignore former President Trump's political influence. A March poll by the Pew Research Center showed that 64% of Republican supporters believe those who voted to impeach Trump should be expelled from the party. With Trump's political standing still strong within the GOP, the leadership has no choice but to be cautious of Trump and his supporters' votes.

CNN analyzed, "The controversy over Cheney's removal ultimately means that the Republican Party is no longer a party representing conservatism but has become a group that only follows 'Trumpism.'"

Concerns have also been raised that the controversy surrounding Cheney will further escalate the conflict between the pro-Trump mainstream Republicans and the anti-Trump non-mainstream faction. Another Republican who voted to impeach Trump, Adam Kinzinger, criticized the party by saying, "Our party is basically like the Titanic ? the ship is already sinking, but everyone says it's fine."

Larry Hogan, the Republican Governor of Maryland, also pointed out, "(The vote to remove Chairwoman Cheney) will lead to the party's self-destruction."