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In a surprising move, former Vice President Dick Cheney has announced his support for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, joining a growing list of conservatives backing the former vice president.
Cheney, who served under President George W. Bush, delivered a sharp rebuke of former President Donald Trump in a statement released Friday. “In the 248 years of our nation’s history, there has never been a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump,” Cheney stated, condemning Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. “He tried to use lies and violence to hold onto power after being rejected by voters. He can never be trusted with power again.”
Cheney, 83, has mostly stayed out of politics since the Bush administration ended in 2009, but has become a vocal critic of Trump in recent years. Once criticized by Democrats for his role in the Iraq War and his energy policies, Cheney has found new favor across the political aisle for his stance against Trump.
His endorsement of Harris is notable, especially given his long history in the Republican Party, and he referenced the events of January 6, 2021, as a key motivator for his decision. “As citizens, we must put our country above partisanship to protect our Constitution,” Cheney said. “That’s why I’m voting for Kamala Harris.”
Cheney’s daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney, who also served on the committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, revealed her father’s endorsement earlier at the Texas Tribune Festival. Liz Cheney had endorsed Harris just days earlier, saying, “As a conservative who values the Constitution, I cannot support Donald Trump. I will be voting for Kamala Harris.”
The Cheney endorsements follow a wave of Republican figures expressing support for Harris. Last month, over 200 former Republican officials, including those who served with Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney, signed an open letter backing Harris in the 2024 election.
John Tyson
