Former President Donald Trump and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney engaged in a heated social media exchange on Thursday, following President Joe Biden’s awarding of the Presidential Citizens Medal to Cheney and Representative Bennie Thompson for their roles on the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, domestic terror attack on the Capitol, the Congress and the Constitution.
The Presidential Citizens Medal is awarded to citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.
Trump, who is awaiting sentencing for his criminal conviction in a New York City court, used his social media platform to criticize Cheney, the committee, and Biden, calling the award a “reward for hatred of Trump.”
Cheney responded with a pointed rebuttal, accusing Trump of spreading falsehoods and undermining American democracy.
In his post, Trump falsely accused Cheney of being “totally corrupt” and blamed her, along with Thompson and other committee members, for “destroying and deleting all evidence” related to their investigation.
He repeated lies that the January 6 committee was biased and described Cheney as a “warmonger of low intelligence.”
“Biden rewarded her only because she hated ‘TRUMP,’” wrote Trump, asserting that the Wyoming congresswoman’s defeat in her 2022 reelection bid reflected her unpopularity rather than acknowledging her reelection hopes were doomed on January 13, 2021, when she and nine other House Republicans voted to impeach the former GOP president a week after he incited an insurrection at the Capitol.
According to Biden, he honored her because: “Throughout two decades in public service, including as a Congresswoman for Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6 attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice—and reached across the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency. Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together.”
Trump also reiterated ridiculous accusations that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was responsible for the Capitol’s security failures on January 6.
The former president was indicted by a grand jury of citizens in the District of Columbia for conspiring to defraud the United States, conspiring to disenfranchise voters, and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding.
“The attack on our nation’s capital on January 6, 2021, was an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy,” said special prosecutor Jack Smith, who announced the charges. “As described in the indictment, it was fueled by lies. Lies by the defendant targeted at obstructing a bedrock function of the U.S. government, the nation’s process of collecting, counting, and certifying the results of the presidential election.”
Smith failed to secure a speedy trial so that the evidence could be tested in court and judged by a jury of citizens. The Department of Justice has had a continuing policy since the 1970s that sitting presidents cannot be indicted as it would prevent them from performing their duties.
That means Trump may never be called to account for his lies, or conspiring to use unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting the election results.
Cheney, who served as the vice chair of the January 6 committee, countered Trump’s claims in a scathing reply. “Donald, this is not the Soviet Union. You can’t change the truth and you cannot silence us,” she wrote, accusing Trump of perpetuating baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud and attacking those who sought to uphold the Constitution.
Cheney highlighted Trump’s alleged inaction during the Capitol attack, writing, “You sent a mob to our Capitol and then watched the violence on television and refused for hours to instruct the mob to leave.” She also urged Americans to reject Trump’s “latest malicious falsehoods” and uphold democratic values.
The exchange followed an award ceremony at the White House, where President Biden recognized Cheney and Thompson for their contributions to safeguarding democracy.
Cheney was honored for her tenure in Congress and her leadership on the January 6 committee, while Thompson was celebrated for his “lifelong dedication to safeguarding our Constitution.”
Both lawmakers faced intense criticism from Trump and his allies for their work on the committee, which investigated Trump’s role in inciting the Capitol attack.
“I am honored to receive the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Biden,” said Thompson. “From my time as a student in Mississippi at Tougaloo College to the halls of Congress, including my time as the Chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol, I have had an unwavering commitment to upholding the Constitution and defending democracy. Throughout my nearly six decades as a public servant, whether on the local or federal level, I have worked to ensure that democratic principles work for all Americans, not just a select few.”
The clash underscores the deep divisions in American politics as Trump prepares to return to the White House following his election victory last November.
His upcoming sentencing, scheduled for January 10, has added another layer of disgrace to a president-elect facing criminal penalties.
Cheney’s remarks reflect her continued alignment with a faction of Republicans critical of Trump, while Trump’s attacks on Cheney and the January 6 committee resonate with his base.
As the nation prepares for Trump’s inauguration on January 20, with flags to be displayed at half-staff in honor of the late President Jimmy Carter, polarizing rhetoric continues to dominate the political landscape, raising questions about the direction of American governance and unity in the coming years.
Biden selected 18 other individuals, in addition to Cheney and Thompson, to receive the Presidential Citizens Medal for their exceptional service to the United States.
Among them is Mary L. Bonauto, a trailblazing attorney who played a pivotal role in legalizing same-sex marriage and argued the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case before the Supreme Court. Bill Bradley, a former NBA champion and U.S. Senator, was recognized for his work on tax reform, civil rights, and environmental policies. Frank K. Butler, Jr., a Navy SEAL and medical innovator, transformed battlefield care with his development of Tactical Combat Casualty Care.
Christopher J. Dodd, a long-serving Congressman and Senator, was honored for his advocacy in childcare, financial reform, and international relations. Diane Carlson Evans, a Vietnam War nurse, was acknowledged for founding the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and advocating for female service members. Joseph L. Galloway, a war correspondent who earned a Bronze Star for combat valor, was celebrated posthumously for his vivid chronicles of soldiers’ experiences in combat. Nancy Landon Kassebaum, the first woman elected to represent Kansas in the Senate, was recognized for her bipartisan efforts on healthcare reform and women’s rights.
Ted Kaufman, a former Delaware Senator, was honored for his leadership in judicial reform, financial improvements, and government integrity. Carolyn McCarthy, a nurse turned Congresswoman, was acknowledged for her tireless advocacy for gun safety following personal tragedy. Civil rights attorney Louis Lorenzo Redding, honored posthumously, was instrumental in desegregation cases that laid the groundwork for Brown v. Board of Education. Bobby Sager, a philanthropist and photographer, was recognized for his efforts to capture humanity in conflict zones and inspire global action.
Collins J. Seitz, a Delaware judge celebrated posthumously, was honored for dismantling segregation in public schools and shaping civil rights law. Eleanor Smeal, a feminist leader, was recognized for her decades-long advocacy for women’s rights, including equal pay and the Violence Against Women Act. Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi, honored posthumously, was a Japanese American internment survivor whose Supreme Court case challenged the injustice of incarceration and secured freedom for many detainees.
Vietnam War veteran Thomas J. Vallely was acknowledged for fostering U.S.-Vietnam relations and establishing Fulbright University Vietnam. Frances M. Visco, a breast cancer survivor and advocate, was recognized for her leadership in increasing federal funding and awareness for breast cancer research and care. Paula S. Wallace, founder and president of the Savannah College of Art and Design, was honored for revolutionizing creative education. Lastly, Evan Wolfson, a leader of the marriage equality movement, was celebrated for his decades of advocacy that transformed legal and societal recognition of LGBTQ+ rights.
These recipients embody the ideals of service, integrity, and dedication celebrated by the Presidential Citizens Medal.
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