Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) blasted her former Republican colleagues in a commencement speech.
Speaking at her alma mater, Colorado College, on Sunday, Cheney said, “After the 2020 election and the attack of January 6th, my fellow Republicans wanted me to lie.”
“They wanted me to say the 2020 election was stolen, the attack of January 6th wasn’t a big deal, and Donald Trump wasn’t dangerous,” she continued during the address. “I had to choose between lying and losing my position in House leadership.”
Cheney added, “No party, no nation, no people can defend and perpetuate a constitutional republic if they accept leaders who have gone to war with the rule of law, with the democratic process, with the peaceful transfer of power, with the Constitution itself.”
According to a Daily Mail report, some applauded Cheney for her remarks while others “booed and turned their chairs away from the stage when she spoke.”
A graduate’s cap during the commencement read, “Why listen to a racist, imperialist, transphobic, war monger?? Your hate is loud.”
Cheney also received backlash from Republican Kari Lake, who applauded the graduates for booing and turning away from the former lawmaker.
“Our young people have good sense,” Lake tweeted early Monday morning. “Liz Cheney is dreadful and anti-American.”
Lake added, “Why do these Woke Universities continue to subject their graduates to the worst-of-the-worst?”
Yes! Our young people have good sense.
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) May 29, 2023
Liz Cheney is dreadful and anti-American.
Why do these Woke Universities continue to subject their graduates to the worst-of-the-worst? https://t.co/YmrfJYDvsM
Additionally, Cheney said during her speech: “Think about this: Cleta Mitchell, an election denier and an advisor to former President Trump, told a gathering of Republicans recently that it is crucially important to make sure that college students don’t vote. Those who are trying to unravel the foundations of our republic, who are threatening the rule of law and the sanctity of our elections know they can’t succeed if you vote. So Class of 2023, get out and vote.”
The former U.S. representative previously vowed to “do everything I can to make sure [former President Donald Trump] is not the nominee” in the 2024 election.
However, at the time she did say, “And if he is the nominee, I won’t be a Republican.”
Conservatives nailed Cheney after she lost to Harriet Hageman in the Wyoming Republican primary in August 2022. They celebrated her loss, as one person tweeted, “Bye bye Liz!”
Trump also called it “a wonderful result for America, and a complete rebuke of the Unselect Committee of political Hacks and Thugs.”
Cheney was among the few Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. She was also a part of the House Jan. 6 select committee.
Cheney was ousted by House Republicans from leadership as House Republican Conference Chair in May 2021 and was replaced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.).
