'Hell has frozen over': Dick Cheney’s bombshell Harris endorsement leaves political experts surprised

WASHINGTON, DC: Former vice president of the United States Dick Cheney, considered to be among the most hardline conservatives in the Republican Party, released a statement endorsing Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 election on Friday, September 6.

Cheney's statement came after his daughter, former GOP congresswoman Liz Cheney, shared that her father would be voting for Harris during an interview at the Texas Tribune Festival earlier the same day.

While the Cheneys are considered to be among Republican royalty, they have been vocal critics of former president and current GOP nominee Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, especially in the aftermath of the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

Dick Cheney releases statement denouncing Donald Trump

"In our nation's 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our Republic than Donald Trump," read the statement released by Dick Cheney.

"He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him."

The baseless claim of Democrats cheating in the 2020 election brought by Trump and his MAGA followers after his loss was never endorsed by Cheney, who highlighted that the GOP nominee "can never be trusted with power again".

"As citizens, we 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," he concluded.

Dick Cheney's endorsement of Kamala Harris surprises politicos

While Dick Cheney's opposition to Donald Trump was well-known, his explicit support for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris managed to stump many political figures.

Trump lost no time in hitting back at Cheney's statement with a long-winded rant of his own on Truth Social. "Dick Cheney is an irrelevant RINO [Republican In Name Only], along with his daughter, who lost by the largest margin in the History of Congressional Races!" said Trump.

"They couldn’t get Scooter Libby, who did so much for them (but was so unfairly treated!), PARDONED. I did it! He’s the King of Endless, Nonsensical Wars, wasting Lives and Trillions of Dollars, just like Comrade Kamala Harris. I am the Peace President, and only I will stop World War III!"

"What Liz Cheney did with the Unselect Committee of Political Losers is unthinkable. She and her Unselects deleted and destroyed all evidence and information - IT’S GONE. Much of it proved that Nancy Pelosi was responsible for J6 - DIDN’T PROVIDE SECURITY. Cheney and the others should be prosecuted for what they did, but Comrade Kamala is even worse!" Trump continued.

Nicole Wallace of MSNBC announcing the news to viewers couldn't stop herself from expressing her surprise as she shared, "Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, known for her work with the January 6th Committee and face of the Republican dynasty in America, who earlier this weekend endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris has gone even further."

Wallace added, "This time she and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, will do something that, if you are a casual follower of American politics might mean hell has frozen over. Dick Cheney is voting for the Democratic nominee for president."

Keith Boykin, former aide in the Bill Clinton White House, reacted to the news on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing, "Wow! Dick Cheney, who served as Vice President to George W Bush, will be voting for Kamala Harris. Never been a fan of Dick Cheney, but this exposes how today’s Republican Party no longer believes in principles of conservatism. It’s just a cult of Trump."

"Dick Cheney was one of the most conservative congressmen and VPs in history. He sees the threat Trump poses to our democracy and is voting for a Democrat for the first time," tweeted talk radio host Barry Markson.

Democratic consultant DJ Koessler stated, "Imagine telling yourself in the early oughts that Dick Cheney would one day endorse the Democratic candidate for president because the GOP's 2024 nominee poses an existential threat to American democracy. The stakes in this election are truly historic."

Internet reacts to Dick Cheney's endorsement of Kamala Harris

Netizens reacting to the news on the Raw Story website reflected on the significance of Dick Cheney backing a Democrat for president.

"Never in a million years did I think I would ever say this, but, 'Thank you Dick Cheney!'" wrote a person.

"I hope this shakes loose some more Republicans who seem constipated on the idea of American democracy," shared another.

"OK as long as he stays hundreds of miles away from the White House when Kamala is our first female president," noted a third.

"Take the help from whomever offers it. It's existential this time," stated a fourth.

"Go ahead and accept their help, for as long as they might be useful. Just don't trust them," cautioned a fifth.

"Wow. The Cheneys' voting Democrat shows the complete destruction of the Trump cult Republican Party," expressed a sixth.

"Dick Cheney voting for Kamala is massive," echoed yet another.

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