Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the No. 3 position in House Republican party leadership on Wednesday, after she publicly chastised Donald Trump, a move that reinforces the former president’s grip on the party.

“We must be true to our principles and the Constitution,” Cheney, R-Wyo. told fellow House Republicans before the closed-door vote, according to a source in the room. “We cannot let the former president drag us backward and make us complicit in his efforts to unravel our democracy. Down that path lies our destruction, and potentially the destruction of our country.”

After the vote, Cheney said that if Trump tries to run again, “I will do everything I can to ensure that the former president never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office.”

According to lawmakers, the conference led by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., had a quick voice vote to remove her. Republicans had intended to vote by secret ballot, but by choosing for a voice vote it will be difficult to tell how many members of her party backed her removal, and how many would have voted to keep her in charge.

“There were no speeches really. It was just Kevin standing up and then the vote happened” said Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., a Cheney ally who called it a “sad day.”

“Truth cannot coexist with lies,” he told reporters.

Cheney, who voted to impeach Trump for his involvement in the Jan. 6 riot, attacked Trump’s most recent allegation that the 2020 election is “fraudulent” last week, labeling it “THE BIG LIE.” On Tuesday evening, she remained adamant, portraying his accusations as a danger to democracy.

Some House Republicans are concerned that the leadership feud between Cheney and Trump would overshadow their criticism of President Joe Biden or their responsibility for the former president’s false assertions about the election.

Republicans have attempted to portray her removal as a move to unite the party before next year’s midterm elections, in which they expect to gain seats and once again take control of the House of Representatives.

Following the decision, Trump mocked Cheney in a statement calling her “a bitter, horrible human being.”

“I watched her yesterday and realized how bad she is for the Republican Party. She has no personality or anything good having to do with politics or our Country” he said.

Some GOP strategists argue that removing Cheney will further alienate Trump-skeptical supporters, particularly in the suburbs, while others argue that it would strengthen the party’s hand.
Despite having multiple opponents challenging her in a party primary, Cheney, who represents Wyoming and is the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, has no intentions to resign from Congress and intends to compete for re-election.

With Cheney being removed from her leadership post, many wonder if it will benefit the Republican party, or possibly make others think that the sole reason they voted her out was to appease Trump.