Liz Cheney Calls Trump A ‘Dictator,’ Refers To His Supporters As ‘Collaborators’

Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney — who was defeated by nearly 36 percentage points in the 2022 primary for Wyoming’s lone congressional district — referred to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as a “collaborator” in former President Trump’s “attempt to overthrow the election.”

“What Donald Trump is trying to do, he can’t do it by himself. He has to have collaborators. And the story of Mike Johnson is the story of a collaborator and of someone who knew then and knows now that what he’s doing and saying is wrong, but he’s willing to do it in an effort to please Donald Trump,” Cheney told CBS News. “And that’s what makes it dangerous.”

Host John Dickerson then asked for clarification, “The Speaker of the House is a collaborator to overthrow the last election. to overthrow the last election?” he asked. “Absolutely,” Cheney replied.

The former “Republican” also claimed that the party losing control of the House would be good for the country, adding that a continued Republican majority would be “dangerous.” When asked what would happen if Mike Johnson is still House speaker on January 5, 2025, Cheney said “he can’t be.”

“You know, we’re facing a situation with respect to the 2024 election where it’s an existential crisis and we have to ensure that we don’t have a situation where an election that might be thrown into the House of Representatives is overseen by a Republican majority,” she said.

“So you would prefer a Democratic majority?” Dickerson followed up.

“I believe very strongly in those principles and ideals that have defined the Republican Party. But the Republican Party of today has made a choice, and they haven’t chosen the Constitution. And so I do think it presents a threat if the Republicans are in the majority in January 2025,” Cheney answered.

Elsewhere in the interview, Cheney claimed that Republicans cannot support both the Constitution and Donald Trump.

“If a person is a member of Congress and they’ve sworn an oath to defend the Constitution, can they defend the Constitution and also endorse Donald Trump?” asked Dickerson.

Cheney said “no,” agreeing that doing so would amount to a betrayal of their oath. “You know, fundamentally there is a choice to be made,” she said. “You can’t both be for Donald Trump and for the Constitution. You have to choose.”