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Cheney’s College Commencement Speech Raises New Speculation About 2024

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


Former Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney lent to further speculation about a potential 2024 presidential run during a commencement speech at her alma mater over the weekend.

Cheney “implored new college graduates to not compromise when it comes to the truth, excoriating her House Republican colleagues for not doing enough to combat former President Donald Trump” following the 2020 election, the Associated Press reported.

“In a commencement speech at Colorado College, the Wyoming Republican repeated her fierce criticisms of Trump but steered clear of talking about his 2024 reelection campaign or her own political future,” the AP noted.

Cheney, a political science graduate from Colorado College in 1988, reminisced about a time during her student years when she entered a campus building adorned with a Bible verse above the entrance that left a lasting impression: “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

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“After the 2020 election and the attack of January 6th, my fellow Republicans wanted me to lie. They wanted me to say the 2020 election was stolen, the attack of January 6th wasn’t a big deal, and Donald Trump wasn’t dangerous,” Cheney said Sunday in Colorado Springs. “I had to choose between lying and losing my position in House leadership.”

Still, with every public appearance and her fixation on Trump, speculation continues to grow that she is at least contemplating running against him for the 2024 GOP nomination, which would be the longest of long shots.

Cheney’s active schedule of speaking engagements and the topics she addresses have sparked speculation about her potential entry into the 2024 GOP presidential primary since leaving office. As candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley navigate their remarks on Trump, they aim to strike a balance, countering his criticisms while also maintaining the support of the base that propelled him to victory in the White House seven years ago, the AP noted.

In the meantime, Cheney accepted a new position at the University of Virginia as a professor of practice earlier this year.

“With democracy under fire in this country and elsewhere around the world, Liz Cheney serves as a model of political courage and leadership. Liz will send a compelling message to students about integrity. She’s a true profile in courage, and she was willing to pay the price for her principles — and democracy itself,” the university’s Center For Politics director, Larry Sabato, said in a statement at the time.

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Cheney released a statement saying she hopes her work at the university will “contribute to finding lasting solutions that not only preserve but strengthen our democracy” at a time when “there are many threats facing our system of government.”

But NBC News noted an interesting detail about Cheney’s contract — her position will run through this year’s fall semester and includes the option to renew for one or more years, meaning she has the option to not teach in 2024 if she has other plans.

“Preserving our constitutional republic is the most important work of our time, and our nation’s young people will play a crucial role in this effort,” she said. “I look forward to working with students and colleagues at the Center to advance the important work they and others at the University of Virginia are doing to improve the health of democracy here and around the world.”

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“She had said she was mulling a possible presidential run in 2024 and has repeatedly said she plans to do whatever it takes to defeat Trump to ensure he doesn’t serve a second term in the White House,” NBC News reported.

Also, CNN published a recent piece detailing “Republicans considering 2024 presidential run,” which included a profile on Cheney.

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