Former Vice President Dick Cheney announced his endorsement of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the presidential election, choosing her over former President Donald Trump.
Dick Cheney, the father of former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and former Republican vice president under the George W. Bush administration, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the country over partisanship in his statement. He stated that he will be casting his vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
In his endorsement, Cheney criticized Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 election, echoing his previous remarks made in 2022 when endorsing his daughter’s unsuccessful House reelection bid.
This endorsement follows Liz Cheney’s recent announcement of her support for Harris. During her final term in office, Liz Cheney led the congressional chambers in investigating Trump’s actions leading up to and during the January 6, 2021, protest at the U.S. Capitol.
The Harris campaign warmly welcomed the endorsement from the former vice president.
Jen O’Malley Dillon, Harris’s campaign chair, released a statement on September 7th expressing gratitude for Vice President Cheney’s support and acknowledging his courage to prioritize the country over party.
Dick Cheney, 83, has been relatively absent from public life in recent years due to his ongoing heart issues. He underwent a heart transplant in 2012.
Meanwhile, Trump took to social media to respond, asserting his own accomplishments and highlighting that Cheney was unable to secure a pardon for a former Bush adviser.
Trump stated, “They couldn’t get Scooter Libby, who did so much for them… PARDONED. I did it.”
The endorsement from Dick Cheney comes after former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly endorsed Trump.
The Trump campaign confirmed in August that Gabbard and Kennedy were joining Trump’s transition team.
Former President George W. Bush, however, has announced that he will not be endorsing any candidate for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Both Bush and his wife, Laura, have chosen to keep their voting preferences private.
A spokesperson for the Bush family stated, “He retired from presidential politics many years ago.”
On the other hand, former Democratic presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Jimmy Carter have all expressed their support for Kamala Harris. Similarly, President Biden, who declared his decision not to seek reelection, has endorsed Harris as well.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has also indicated in multiple interviews that he will not be voting for his former boss, Donald Trump.