Liz Cheney Suggests Conservatives Might Need a New Party After GOP’s Corruption by Trump

Former Republican Representative Liz Cheney from Wyoming has suggested that conservatives might need to establish a new political party, citing the GOP’s “corruption” under former President Donald Trump.

At the Cap Times Idea Fest in Madison, Wisconsin, Cheney expressed her concerns about the Republican Party’s current direction. Speaking with Peter Baker of The New York Times, she stated that the party may have outlived its usefulness, having devoted itself almost entirely to Trump.

“It’s hard for me to see how the Republican Party survives because it’s been so corrupted,” Cheney said during the discussion. She emphasized the necessity for two strong political parties in the U.S., suggesting that traditional conservatives might no longer find a welcoming environment within the GOP.

When Baker inquired whether the party could “purge itself of Trump,” Cheney analyzed the challenges facing the Republican Party. She opined that it would be difficult to regain credibility without acknowledging the damage done during Trump’s tenure.

“We need our political system to reflect the goodness of the American people,” she argued. Cheney raised the possibility of organizing a new party but maintained that the current GOP may struggle to convince voters to support their candidates until they confront their past actions.

She continued, “I think making sure that on an individual basis, we’re casting votes for serious, responsible people is critical. We need to encourage individuals to get involved and run for office.”

Cheney acknowledged that a significant transformation in the political landscape is likely. “I don’t know exactly what that will look like,” she admitted, adding that the situation has deteriorated so much that a mere reshuffling of candidates within the Republican Party might not suffice.

“I don’t think it will just simply be, ‘Well, the Republican Party is gonna put up a new slate of candidates and off to the races,’” she explained. “I think far too much has happened. It’s too damaging.”

In discussing the possibility of a new party, Baker referenced the historical shift from the Whig Party to the Republicans in the 1850s. Cheney indicated that such a change could indeed be necessary, noting that much of the current Republican Party has become a “tool for this really unstable man,” referring to Trump.

Cheney’s remarks came in the wake of a letter signed by over 100 former Republican officials who have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. This group declared that Trump is “unfit to serve again as President, or indeed in any office of public trust.” Notable signatories include former defense secretaries Chuck Hagel and William Cohen, former CIA directors Michael Hayden and William Webster, and former Trump administration officials Miles Taylor and Olivia Troye. Troye had also voiced her support for Harris at the Democratic National Convention.

The letter articulated serious concerns about Trump’s presidency, accusing him of promoting chaos within the government, praising enemies, undermining allies, politicizing the military, and prioritizing personal interests over national ones. The signatories collectively asserted that Trump has betrayed vital American values and the principles enshrined in the nation’s founding documents.

Although the signers may disagree with Harris on numerous issues, they united in the belief that Trump is unworthy of the presidency and the associated responsibilities.