MAGA allies erupted in outrage on Thursday after former Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Joe Biden. Cheney, along with Rep. Bennie Thompson and 18 others, received the prestigious accolade during a ceremony at the White House, where Cheney was met with a standing ovation.
The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second-highest civilian honor in the United States. Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, was recognized for her role as vice chair of the House January 6 Committee. In describing Cheney, the White House highlighted her efforts to “raise her voice — and reach across the aisle — to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom.
Dignity. And decency.” The award ceremony was especially controversial among Trump’s allies, many of whom felt that Cheney’s involvement in the January 6 investigation was a political attack against President-elect Donald Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) blasted the award, calling it a “complete joke and utter embarrassment.”
He accused Cheney and other members of the January 6 Committee of lying to the American people and creating a “fake, phony narrative” to damage Trump. He vowed that Republicans would continue their investigation into the committee, promising it would be “FULLY FUNDED” in the next Congress.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) also voiced his disapproval, claiming that Cheney’s actions amounted to witness tampering. “This is truly unbelievable,” Cruz wrote on X. “Liz Cheney tampered with a witness. Outside of DC, that doesn’t get you a medal; it gets you jail time.”
Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) similarly criticized Cheney, accusing her of criminal behavior. “As it turns out, to earn the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Biden, all you need to do is delete congressional records and commit criminal witness tampering to further your party’s narrative,” Perry wrote.
Investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald joined the chorus of criticism, pointing out the contradictions in the White House’s praise of Cheney. “Having ‘Joe Biden’, as one of his last acts, bestow a presidential medal on Liz Cheney says so much about the value system of the Democratic Party,” Greenwald wrote.
He also highlighted Cheney’s support for policies like the Iraq War and the War on Terror, questioning the White House’s characterization of Cheney as an advocate for freedom and decency. Despite the backlash, Cheney’s award stands as a symbol of her contributions to defending democratic principles, as seen through her leadership on the January 6 Committee.