Trump’s Remarks About Liz Cheney Draw Criticism from Harris

Trump’s Remarks About Liz Cheney Draw Criticism from Harris \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Kamala Harris on Friday condemned Donald Trump’s escalating rhetoric against former Rep. Liz Cheney, calling his remarks “disqualifying” and accusing him of embracing violent language against political opponents. Trump, meanwhile, labeled Cheney a “radical war hawk” and doubled down on his criticisms, claiming she would avoid combat if faced with her own policies. With Election Day looming, the stark contrast between Harris and Trump underscores broader concerns about their visions for American leadership and democracy.

Kamala Harris Calls Trump’s Comments on Liz Cheney ‘Disqualifying’ as Heated Rhetoric Intensifies Ahead of Election

• Harris’s Rebuke of Trump: Harris criticized Trump’s remarks about Cheney, calling them “disqualifying” and harmful to American values, as she urged voters to consider leadership qualities.
• Trump’s Critique of Cheney: Trump labeled Cheney a “radical war hawk,” accusing her of advocating war from the safety of Washington, and used increasingly provocative language about her stance.
• Sharp Reactions from Cheney and Harris: Both Cheney and Harris denounced Trump’s remarks, with Cheney calling Trump “cruel” and “unstable” and Harris framing the incident as evidence of his unfitness for office.
• Political and Ethical Implications: As Election Day nears, Trump’s rhetoric and Harris’s response highlight stark differences in their approaches to leadership and governance, resonating across the political spectrum.

Deep Look

Kamala Harris delivered a strong rebuke on Friday to Donald Trump over his intensifying rhetoric against former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, whom he criticized with language that Harris described as “disqualifying.” In recent comments, Trump implied that Cheney—a staunch critic of the former president—should experience the battlefield herself to understand the risks of her own hawkish foreign policy positions. Harris, campaigning with Cheney in battleground states, urged voters to carefully consider who they want in the White House, contrasting her vision of leadership with Trump’s antagonistic approach. She emphasized that Trump’s escalating rhetoric threatens to undermine American values and called Cheney “a true patriot” for her stance against Trump’s politics.

The exchange between Harris and Trump highlights the growing tension in the final days of the presidential campaign. Harris has spent the week intensifying her message, framing Trump’s behavior as detrimental to democracy. Following her arrival in Madison, Wisconsin, Harris spoke with reporters and emphasized the implications of Trump’s recent comments on Cheney. “His enemies list has grown longer, his rhetoric has grown more extreme, and he is even less focused than before on the needs and the concerns and the challenges facing the American people,” Harris stated. She underscored her point by citing Trump’s words as part of a larger pattern of divisive and violent language that, she argued, disqualifies him from serving in the nation’s highest office.

Trump’s controversial remarks came during an appearance in Dearborn, Michigan, where he again criticized Cheney as a “radical war hawk,” suggesting she would “chicken out” if ever placed in a combat situation. He doubled down on this position while addressing supporters, calling Cheney “a disaster” and a “coward.” Trump’s allies have defended his comments, arguing that they were aimed solely at Cheney’s foreign policy stance, not at Cheney personally. They maintain that Trump’s intent was to critique Cheney’s consistent advocacy for military interventions, which Trump opposes, and that his words are being misinterpreted by critics to damage his public image. However, this line of defense has not satisfied Cheney or her supporters.

Cheney, who famously broke with Trump following the January 6 Capitol riot, did not hold back in her response. She took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce Trump’s words, warning that they exemplify the tactics of dictators and aspiring tyrants. “This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death,” Cheney wrote. She described Trump as “a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant.” Cheney, whose vocal criticism of Trump cost her a prominent place in the GOP and ultimately her seat in Congress, has since thrown her support behind Harris, joining her at campaign events to appeal to Republicans disaffected by Trump’s politics and rhetoric.

The former congresswoman from Wyoming has become an important figure in Harris’s campaign, especially in swing states where Harris has sought to appeal to moderate Republicans and independents. Cheney’s collaboration with Harris comes as Harris’s campaign works to shore up votes in the so-called “blue wall” states that form a critical pathway to victory. Cheney’s presence on the campaign trail provides Harris with bipartisan credibility, and the former GOP lawmaker has made a point of warning voters against the dangers she believes Trump poses to democratic norms and institutions.

Trump, in response, has characterized Cheney’s opposition as part of an establishment effort to discredit him. At a rally in Arizona with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Trump expanded on his critique of Cheney, suggesting that her foreign policy decisions were reckless and overly aggressive. “She’s a radical war hawk,” Trump asserted, adding, “Let’s put her with the rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her. OK, let’s see how she feels about it.” He argued that Cheney and others who support military interventions do so comfortably from their offices in Washington without ever facing the realities of combat. “You know, when the guns are trained on her face, let’s see how she feels about sending thousands of troops into battle,” he continued.

Harris’s response to these comments framed Trump’s words as part of a broader trend of violent language and divisive politics, which she said pose a threat to American unity. She suggested that Trump’s rhetoric reflects a dark turn in the political landscape, one that undermines democratic norms and promotes hostility. “Trump’s language has grown darker, his enemies list has grown longer, and his understanding of the country’s needs has grown even smaller,” Harris said. “We’re at a crossroads in this election, and the American people deserve a president who focuses on their welfare, not on attacking those who disagree.”

Trump’s targeting of Cheney and other political opponents is not an isolated incident. Throughout his campaign, he has consistently framed certain individuals and groups as “enemies from within,” a theme that resonates with his base but alarms his critics, who argue it normalizes authoritarian tactics. Trump has pledged to use government institutions, including the military and federal agencies, to confront what he describes as “unscrupulous behavior” among his opponents. He has also talked about implementing “long-term prison sentences” for certain individuals and suggested that the National Guard could be deployed domestically to address internal threats. These comments, seen by some as exaggerated rhetoric, have drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.

Former Rep. Joe Walsh, a Republican critic of Trump, weighed in on the controversy surrounding Trump’s words about Cheney. He argued that Trump’s statement had been taken out of context, asserting that the former president was not literally calling for Cheney to face a firing squad. “In Trump’s typically stupid, ugly fashion, he’s trying to make a point about Cheney’s stance on war,” Walsh said on X, maintaining that Trump’s rhetoric was intended as a critique of Cheney’s foreign policy rather than a personal threat.

However, Harris’s campaign seized on Trump’s language as indicative of the larger contrast between the two candidates. Harris’s spokesperson, Ian Sams, remarked, “In this race, you have Trump talking about sending someone to the firing squad and Harris talking about sending people to her Cabinet. This is the choice we face.” The statement emphasizes the divergent approaches to leadership between Trump and Harris, portraying Harris as a leader focused on coalition-building while painting Trump as someone fixated on retribution against those who oppose him.

With just days remaining before the election, the feud between Trump, Harris, and Cheney underscores the broader questions voters are weighing as they decide on the nation’s next leader. Harris’s call for unity and democratic values stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s combative approach, and Cheney’s role as a prominent Republican critic of Trump has only highlighted the fractures within the GOP. For voters, the stakes have never been higher, as they consider whether to endorse a vision of governance grounded in collaboration or one defined by ideological conflict and personal vendettas.

As the campaign reaches its final stages, both Harris and Trump are doubling down on their respective messages. Harris, emphasizing integrity and unity, has sought to appeal to a broad coalition of voters, warning against what she describes as Trump’s authoritarian leanings. Trump, on the other hand, has shown no signs of softening his stance, continuing to frame his campaign as a battle against “enemies from within” and advocating for policies that his critics fear would undermine democratic norms. For Americans, this election represents a choice between two starkly different paths forward—one focused on restoration and cooperation, and the other on a hardline stance against opposition.

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