President Joe Biden will present Liz Cheney, the former Republican congresswoman and vocal critic of Donald Trump, with the Presidential Citizens Medal on Thursday. Despite once suggesting Cheney “could be in a lot of trouble” with the law, Biden is recognizing her for her “exemplary deeds of service” to the country and fellow citizens in a move that is likely designed to infuriate the president-elect and his legions of supporters.
Cheney, who represented Wyoming in the House, is among 20 prominent figures receiving the prestigious honor, the second-highest civilian award in the U.S. Other recipients include former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, former House Representative Carolyn McCarthy, and current lawmaker Bennie Thompson, who chaired the House committee that investigated Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Cheney, who is the daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney, served as the vice-chair of the committee. Describing Liz Cheney, the White House said Thursday that she “has raised her voice — and reached across the aisle — to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency.” It added: “Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together.”
Liz Cheney, 58, has emerged as one of the leading anti-Trump voices within the Republican Party in recent years. However, her outspoken opposition to Trump led to her losing her congressional seat in 2022 to a pro-Trump challenger. Cheney also campaigned alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate who was defeated by Trump in November. With Trump poised to return to the White House on January 20, several left-wing media figures and Democrats say has vowed to seek retribution against his political opponents, but the president-elect himself has said making the country successful again will be his “retribution.”
In a recent social media post, Trump suggested that Cheney “could be in a lot of trouble” based on evidence gathered by the House subcommittee, which claimed that “numerous federal laws were likely broken by Liz Cheney, and these violations should be investigated by the FBI.” In December, a Republican-led congressional panel accused Cheney of witness tampering for her role in leading the investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot. Cheney has vehemently denied the accusations.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.