Donald Trump’s highest-profile Republican critic blasted “poisonous lies” as she was booted out of Congress in a primary election.
Liz Cheney lost her seat in the House of Representatives as voters in Wyoming backed her Trump-supported opponent, lawyer Harriet Hageman, in a result that futher reinforces the former president’s grip on the Republican party’s base.
Reacting to the result on Wednesday, the third-term congresswoman said: “History has shown us over and over again how poisonous lies destroy free nations.”
She added: “I will do whatever it takes to ensure that Donald Trump is never anywhere near the Oval Office and I mean it. I love my country more.”
The 56-year-old is the most senior Republican on the congressional panel investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, which has accused Mr Trump of provoking the violence.
Mr Trump, who lost to Joe Biden in what he falsely claimed was a “rigged” 2020 presidential election, today gloated over the defeat for his biggest Republican critic, whom he branded “spiteful”.
“Congratulations to Harriet Hageman on her great and very decisive WIN in Wyoming,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“This is a wonderful result for America, and a complete rebuke of the Unselect Committee of political Hacks and Thugs.”
In her concession speech, Ms Cheney, 56, said she plans to maintain an active presence in national politics, fuelling speculation she could run for president in 2024 - potentially putting her on another collision course with her adversary.
