(Scypre.com) – In a surprising political development, former Vice President Dick Cheney, a lifelong Republican, announced on Friday that he will cast his vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. The endorsement was first revealed by Cheney’s daughter, Liz Cheney, during an interview with Mark Leibovich at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. When asked about her father’s support for Harris, Liz Cheney confirmed it, sparking audible reactions from the audience.
Dick Cheney, like his daughter, has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, particularly during Liz Cheney’s unsuccessful 2022 reelection campaign. Cheney’s endorsement of Harris appears to be driven more by his opposition to Trump than an endorsement of Harris’ policies. In a statement released on Friday, Cheney explained his rationale, saying, “He [Trump] can never be trusted with power again. As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution. That is why I will be casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Trump quickly responded on his Truth Social platform, labeling Cheney an “irrelevant RINO” (Republican in name only) and took a shot at Liz Cheney as well. Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, sarcastically quipped, “Who is Liz Cheney?” and highlighted Liz Cheney’s previous criticism of Harris, in which she referred to the vice president as a “radical liberal.”
In contrast, Harris’ campaign expressed gratitude for the endorsement, with her campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, stating, “The Vice President is proud to have the support of Vice President Cheney, and deeply respects his courage to put country over party.”
Cheney, 83, has remained relatively out of the public eye in recent years due to ongoing heart issues, including a heart transplant in 2012. His latest statement closely resembles a 2022 campaign ad he created for his daughter, in which he condemned Trump as a “coward” who attempted to “steal the last election using lies and violence.”
Despite the Cheneys’ longstanding influence in Republican circles, their opposition to Trump has cost them significant support. Liz Cheney lost her 2022 primary in Wyoming by a wide margin to Trump-endorsed candidate Harriet Hageman, marking a dramatic fall for a family once revered in the state.
Though the Cheney family once supported Trump in 2016, their relationship deteriorated after Trump criticized the foreign policies of the Bush-Cheney administration, particularly the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. By 2021, Liz Cheney’s role in impeaching Trump and investigating the January 6 Capitol riot further alienated them from the GOP.
While Dick Cheney’s endorsement of Harris marks his first support of a Democrat for president, he has maintained relationships with Democrats throughout his career. A few other Republican figures, including Rep. Adam Kinzinger and some prominent senators, have also voiced their opposition to Trump, though many within the GOP continue to rally behind the former president. Of the anti-Trump Republicans, only Sen. Mitt Romney remains in office, having announced he will not seek reelection.