Former vice president Dick Cheney has announced his support for Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. election, marking a significant departure from his Republican roots. In a public statement, the 83-year-old Cheney explained that his decision to vote for the Democratic candidate is rooted in his belief that her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, “can never be trusted with power again.”
Cheney has been a consistent critic of Trump, especially during his daughter Liz Cheney’s unsuccessful bid to retain her Wyoming congressional seat in 2022. Liz Cheney, a former Republican congresswoman, also declared her support for Harris, making the announcement during an onstage interview with Mark Leibovich at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. “Wow,” Leibovich responded as the crowd cheered.
In his statement, Dick Cheney emphasized the importance of prioritizing the country over partisanship, stating, “In our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.” He added, “As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution. That is why I will be casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.”
When asked for a comment following Liz Cheney’s announcement, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung sarcastically responded, “Who is Liz Cheney?” The campaign also pointed to a previous statement by Liz Cheney in which she referred to Harris as a “radical liberal” four years ago.
Dick Cheney, who served as vice president under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, has made few public appearances in recent years, largely due to ongoing heart issues. In 2012, he underwent a heart transplant. His Friday statement echoes sentiments from a 2022 campaign ad in which he criticized Trump, particularly in light of the January 6 Capitol riots. In that ad, Cheney called Trump a “coward” for attempting to “steal the last election using lies and violence” after losing the 2020 race.
Despite his daughter’s loss in the deep-red state of Wyoming, where the Cheney family once enjoyed widespread support, the former vice president remains a vocal critic of Trump. His endorsement of Harris marks a significant moment in his political career, as he has never before supported a Democrat for president. Both Dick and Liz Cheney had backed Trump during his successful 2016 presidential campaign.
