Cheney regrets voting for Trump in 2020 after being stripped of Republican leadership

US Republicans voted to replace her as their new House conference chair with Elise Stefanik, a vocal support of the former president

Cheney, whose father was vice-president under George W. Bush, has repeatedly criticised Trump’s lies about election fraud

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Liz Cheney after House Republicans voted to remove her as conference chair. Photo: TNS

Published: 2:47pm, 15 May 2021Updated: 10:53pm, 15 May 2021

US Republicans on Friday elected Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, an outspoken defender of Donald Trump, as their new House conference chair, as the party scrambles to unify amid an explosive debate about its direction.

Stefanik replaced Liz Cheney, who clashed repeatedly with members of her party over Trump’s false claims about election fraud and his actions on January 6, the day of the Capitol riot. Cheney told ABC News she now regrets voting for Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

“I was never going to support Joe Biden and I do regret the vote,” Cheney said during an interview to be broadcast on Sunday. “It was a vote based on policy, based on substance and in terms of the kinds of policies he put forward that were good for the country. But I think it’s fair to say that I regret the vote.”

Cheney has vowed to continue fighting for conservative principles and against a defeated leader who keeps spreading “the big lie” of voter fraud. She reiterated her opposition to having Trump lead the party.

“I think that there are some very big issues that we need to grapple with as a party,” she told CNN. “We need to be in a position where we can get back voters who left us in 2020, where we can convey to people how important it is to come together around a set of principles that we know are the right ones for the country.”

Trump, delighted over Cheney’s fall, praised Stefanik before and after the vote.

“Congratulations to Elise Stefanik for her Big and Overwhelming victory!” Trump wrote in a statement. “The House GOP is united and the Make America Great Again movement is Strong!”

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