Top Republican: Trump is not the party leader

by Susan Ferrechio, Chief Congressional Correspondent |




Former President Donald Trump is not the leader of the Republican Party, House GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney told reporters Monday at a lawmaker retreat not far from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

Cheney, who voted to impeach Trump in January on a charge of inciting an insurrection in the form of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, said the party leaders are Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California.

“I think our elected leaders are the ones who are in charge of the Republican Party,” the Wyoming Republican told reporters when she was asked about Trump’s role.

Cheney has been outspoken about her opposition to Trump since the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by throngs of pro-Trump protesters. She has declared he should not play a role in leading the party.

But her stance contradicts McCarthy, a California Republican who is a staunch Trump ally and has visited the former president at his Palm Beach estate. McCarthy has told reporters that Trump is the leader of the GOP. McCarthy did not appear at the press conference with Cheney, nor did Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana.

Trump is not appearing at the House GOP issues conference, which began Sunday and wraps up on Tuesday. Republicans are huddling on messaging and policy issues they hope will help them recapture the House majority in 2022.

While Trump is poised to play a role in the next election, Cheney dismissed his influence not just in the midterm elections but in the next presidential election. Trump has not ruled out making an attempt to regain the White House and could be a leading candidate.

Cheney suggested Republicans can win with a strong platform.

“As we look at 2022 and 2024, we are very much going to be focused on substance and on the issues, and I think that is where we have to go to attract back the voters that we lost in 2020 by conveying to them that, in fact, we are the party that they can trust regarding confidence and conservative principles.”