'Who cares': Liz Cheney faces backlash after criticizing Kevin McCarthy's endorsement of Donald Trump

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Rep Liz Cheney openly criticized Kevin McCarthy for staunchly supporting Donald Trump's potential 2024 presidential bid after being ousted as House Speaker.

She didn't mince words, condemning McCarthy's unwavering endorsement of Trump.

Kevin McCarthy's surprising endorsement

McCarthy, who is set to retire from Congress in December, expressed his support for Trump and willingness to serve in a potential Trump cabinet during an interview with CBS' Robert Costa.

"In the right position. Look, if I'm the best person for the job. Yes. Look, I worked with President Trump on a lot of policies. We worked together to win the majority. But we also have a relationship where we're very honest with one another," McCarthy stated during the interview.

Questioning McCarthy's decision, anchor Jen Psaki asked, "Watching that, I was thinking, why? You're leaving Congress. So why?"

"I can't explain it," Cheney responded to MSNBC's Jen Psaki, labeling McCarthy's continued support for the twice-impeached former president as "pathetic" and "sad."

Cheney expressed her concerns about the consequences of McCarthy's allegiance to Trump, stating, "There's sort of an element of it doesn't really matter what Donald Trump has done to the country, what Donald Trump has done to the Congress, Donald Trump has done to Kevin McCarthy."

She added that history would likely show McCarthy's "unwillingness to do the right thing and each time that decision came, did real damage."

Social media backlash

Social media, however, was quick to criticize Cheney for her remarks.

"Who cares what Liz says," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"All she got right now is her last name, nobody would know her if she changed it," another wrote.

"Is Liz Cheney the best you can do? She hates Trump bc Daddy said so. They both hate him more than they love this country," a comment read.

"Why would anyone - Republican OR Democrat - listen to the daughter of Dick Cheney?" someone else added.

"Everyone knows what fraud Liz did and her own booted her, it would be great if she just faded away. Pathetic is her life now," another chimed in.

 

Despite initially blaming Trump for the Jan 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, McCarthy's subsequent visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago home has fueled speculation about the former president's increasing influence within the Republican Party.

Cheney revealed in her new book 'Oath and Honor' that McCarthy visited Trump because he'd been told Trump "wasn't eating and was depressed."

Trump, however, contradicted this claim, insisting last week that he'd "actually been eating too much," HuffPost reported.

This is not the first time Cheney has criticized McCarthy. Last week, she referred to him as "pathetic" when he announced his impending departure from the House.

"I think that he's a pathetic figure in many ways in our history," Cheney told conservative pundit Charlie Sykes on 'The Bulwark Podcast.'

McCarthy's resignation and GOP speculation

McCarthy, ousted from his role earlier this year, announced his resignation from Congress at the end of the month. His fall from GOP leadership followed internal disputes within his party.

"I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways," McCarthy wrote in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal. "I know my work is only getting started."

The announcement marks the conclusion of McCarthy's tumultuous journey from the speakership to a historic ouster within his party.

Speculation about his future arose, including whether he would seek reelection, serve out the remainder of his term, or leave the House early, after his defeat.