Trump’s remarks came during a live event with Tucker Carlson in Arizona, where he labeled Cheney a “radical warmonger.” He suggested a grotesque scenario where Cheney would be targeted with a “nine-barrel rifle,” saying, “Let’s see how she feels when guns are aimed at her face.” He further added, “They’re all war supporters when they’re sitting in a nice building in Washington saying, ‘Oh, let’s send 10,000 soldiers straight into the enemy’s mouth.’”
The comments have drawn intense scrutiny, with some analysts interpreting Trump’s reference to a “nine-barrel” weapon as a nod to the traditional firing squad, deepening the alarming narrative surrounding his campaign rhetoric.
Cheney, who has become a vocal critic of Trump since the events of January 6, 2021, has publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming 2024 election. In her recent campaigning alongside Harris, Cheney highlighted the dangers Trump poses to democracy, stating, “We see it every day, someone willing to use violence to seize power, someone who represents, in my view, irrevocable destruction, and we must do everything possible to ensure he is not re-elected.”
The escalation in Trump’s language has been noted as part of a broader trend towards darker and more violent campaign rhetoric. He has previously stated that in the context of the 2024 elections, the Democrats are a greater threat to America than countries like China and Russia. “We have an enemy from within,” he remarked, adding that these “bad people” wish to turn the United States into a “good communist or fascist country.”
In response to Trump’s incendiary comments, Harris’s campaign senior advisor Ian Sams appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” contrasting the candidates’ approaches. “Think about the difference between these two candidates. You have Donald Trump talking about sending a leading Republican to a firing squad, and you have Vice President Harris who talks about sending one to her Cabinet.”
Trump’s spokesperson, Caroline Levitt, defended the former president, claiming that his words were taken out of context. She stated on X, “President Trump was clearly explaining that war proponents like Liz Cheney are quick to send others to fight instead of going to battle themselves.”
Cheney’s steadfast response highlights the intensifying political divide as the 2024 election approaches, with both candidates engaging in increasingly heated exchanges. The former Congresswoman’s stance against Trump continues to resonate with many who view his comments as not just a political attack, but as part of a dangerous trend in American politics.