The Republican Party Turned into the Trump Party... What the Ouster of Chairwoman Cheney Signifies

Rep. Stefanik, Who Claims Election Fraud, Elected as New Chair
Lawmakers Watch Trump Closely Amid His Enduring Influence
NYT: "Republican Party Has Become a Trump Follower Group, Not a Conservative Party"
100 Republican Figures Suggest Possible Third Party Formation to Demand Change

Representative Liz Cheney [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Liz Cheney, the third-ranking member of the Republican Party and chair of the House Republican Conference, was ultimately ousted from her chair position on the 12th (local time). The reason for her removal was that she criticized former President Donald Trump's claims of election fraud in the last presidential election and voted against the House impeachment resolution that was introduced on the grounds that Trump incited the January Capitol riot. Then on the 14th, the House Republican Conference elected Representative Elise Stefanik, who has continuously raised doubts about election fraud, as the new chair. All of this happened within just three days.

Cheney emphasized that she would continue her anti-Trump stance even after being stripped of her chairmanship. After the leadership voted to remove her, she stated, "It is impossible to embrace blatant lies and the Constitution together," and vowed to lead the fight to restore the Republican Party to its fundamental conservative principles. This is interpreted as her determination to block Trump's influence over the Republican Party and to prevent his bid for re-election.

In an interview with NBC on the 12th, she declared, "I want to lead the struggle to restore our party to normal," positioning herself as the vanguard of the anti-Trump movement.

In fact, Cheney herself is classified as a staunch conservative. She was a strong supporter of the large-scale tax cuts during the Trump administration, which faced fierce opposition from the Democrats, and aligned with various policy directions of former President Trump.

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik Photo by AP Yonhap News

On the other hand, the newly elected Chair Stefanik is considered less conservative than Cheney. She voted against the 2017 tax cuts proposed by former President Trump, which Cheney had supported. In fact, ahead of Stefanik's election, Republican Representative Chip Roy expressed a negative view, saying, "(Stefanik) is not conservative enough."

"The Republican Party no longer represents conservatives"

The scene during the January storming of the U.S. Capitol in Washington [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Ultimately, the dominant interpretation in U.S. political circles is that the Republican Party's unified move to oust Cheney was not to uphold any conservative ideology or values but solely to protect former President Trump personally. The New York Times (NYT) reported, "Cheney's removal signifies that the Republican Party has moved away from being a party representing traditional conservative ideology and values," adding, "Now the Republican Party has become a group that values loyalty to Trump above any policy agenda."

Despite Trump's departure from office, his influence over the Republican Party is said to have grown even stronger. This atmosphere is evident in the increasing number of Republican lawmakers who sympathize with Trump's stance regarding the January Capitol riot. Republican Representative Andrew Clyde said, "(Regarding the Capitol riot) there was no insurrection," and "the protesters were no different from ordinary tourists." Another Republican, Paul Gosar, praised the rioters who caused violence in Congress, calling them "all peaceful patriots."

Also noteworthy is the change in attitude of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Earlier, he said that "former President Trump also bears responsibility" for the January Capitol riot. However, after being criticized by Trump and having a private meeting with him, McCarthy quickly changed his stance on the riot and led opposition against Trump's impeachment. Newsweek reported, "Since the majority of Republican supporters still back Trump, it would have been difficult for Leader McCarthy to act against him."

CNN assessed, "These reactions from Republican lawmakers themselves demonstrate the party's willingness to reject the truth."

Former U.S. President Donald Trump [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

Counterattack by the Anti-Trump Faction

In this reality within the Republican Party, attention is focused on whether Cheney will bring about change. The NYT analyzed, "Cheney's removal effectively assigned her the role of leader of the anti-Trump Republicans."

She is expected to support candidates opposing former President Trump in next year's midterm elections as part of her anti-Trump struggle. The Washington Post (WP) cited a close aide to Cheney saying, "We are considering politically or financially supporting those running as Republican candidates next year who hold critical views of former President Trump."

Moreover, signs are emerging that the anti-Trump movement is spreading both inside and outside the Republican Party. According to the NYT, more than 100 Republican figures gathered and issued a statement on the 13th warning that if the Republican Party does not show signs of change, they will form a new third party to represent conservatives. Among those who signed the statement was Miles Taylor, who served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration. He said, "This is just the beginning," adding, "This shows that over 100 Republicans clearly recognize the serious situation our party is currently facing." According to Taylor, former governors, lawmakers, ambassadors, and cabinet members jointly signed the statement.