Politics in America has always been a bit of a contact sport, but the back-and-forth between Donald Trump and Liz Cheney is basically a heavyweight grudge match that just won't quit. If you've been following the news cycles, you know Trump isn't exactly shy about handing out nicknames. When it comes to the former Wyoming Congresswoman, he's used everything from "radical war hawk" to "deranged person."
It’s personal. It’s loud. And it honestly tells you a lot about the current state of the Republican Party.
The "Radical War Hawk" Controversy
The phrase that really caught fire recently was "radical war hawk." This isn't just a random insult; it's a very specific critique Trump uses to distance his "America First" foreign policy from the more interventionist style associated with Liz and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney.
During an event with Tucker Carlson in Glendale, Arizona, back in late 2024, Trump didn't just stop at calling her a hawk. He went into a detailed—and highly controversial—description of what he thought she’d do if she actually had to face combat herself. He suggested putting her in a situation where she had "nine barrels shooting at her" to see how she’d feel about sending troops into war.
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While the Trump campaign later clarified he was talking about her willingness to start "endless foreign wars" from the safety of Washington, the rhetoric sparked a massive firestorm. Critics, including Liz Cheney herself, called it the language of a "dictator."
A Long List of Nicknames
If you look back through the Truth Social posts and the rally speeches, "war hawk" is just the tip of the iceberg. Trump has a specific playbook for people he feels have betrayed him, and Liz Cheney is at the top of that list.
- "Deranged person": He has used this one frequently, especially in relation to her work on the January 6th Select Committee.
- "Low IQ": This is a classic Trump go-to. He used "low IQ war hawk" to describe her after she endorsed Kamala Harris.
- "Very dumb individual": He’s repeated this sentiment multiple times, often questioning her intelligence in the same breath as her policy decisions.
- "Crazy Liz Cheney": Similar to "Crazy Nancy," this was a common tag used during the 2022 midterms when he was trying to oust her from her Wyoming seat.
- "Coward": In late 2024, he also labeled her a coward, claiming she wouldn't have the "stamina" to look an enemy in the eye on a battlefield.
It’s worth noting that the name-calling goes both ways. Cheney hasn't exactly been quiet, calling Trump "unstable," "cruel," and a "threat to the Republic."
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Why the "War Hawk" Label Sticks
Basically, the reason Trump leans so hard into the "war hawk" label is because it resonates with a specific part of his base that is tired of overseas conflicts. By calling her a "radical war hawk," he’s trying to paint her as an out-of-touch elitist who is happy to spend American lives for globalist interests.
Cheney’s defense is usually centered on national security and the importance of American leadership abroad. She views Trump's isolationism as the real danger. So, when Trump calls her these names, he’s not just insulting her—he’s drawing a line in the sand between two very different versions of the GOP.
The Impact on the 2024 Election
When Cheney eventually endorsed Kamala Harris, the rhetoric hit a fever pitch. Trump called her a "stupid person" and a "disaster" for the Republican party. He even went after her father, Dick Cheney, though he admitted he didn't blame a father for sticking with his daughter.
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The name-calling isn't just for show. It had real-world consequences in Wyoming, where Cheney lost her primary by a massive margin to a Trump-backed candidate. It showed that, at least for now, the "America First" wing has the upper hand in defining what a Republican looks like.
Understanding the Rhetoric
If you're trying to make sense of why this matters, it’s about more than just mean words. The names Trump calls Liz Cheney are shorthand for a much larger ideological battle.
- Interventionism vs. Isolationism: "War hawk" represents the old-school GOP foreign policy.
- Loyalty vs. Principle: "Deranged" and "Crazy" are used to frame her opposition to Trump as a personal obsession rather than a principled stand on the Constitution.
- Intelligence vs. Instinct: By calling her "dumb," Trump attempts to undermine her credibility as a policy expert.
Actionable Insights for Following the News
Staying informed in this environment is tricky because the labels are designed to trigger an emotional response. To get the full picture, you've got to look past the "radical war hawk" headlines.
- Check the full quote: Trump’s "firing squad" comments were widely reported, but reading the full transcript shows he was talking about combat zones and foreign policy, even if the imagery was violent.
- Look at the policy, not the post: Strip away the "low IQ" insults and look at what they actually disagree on—mostly trade, foreign intervention, and the events of January 6th.
- Recognize the "RINO" label: Trump often calls his GOP critics "RINOs" (Republicans In Name Only). Understanding that this is a tool for party purification helps explain why he uses it against someone with a historically conservative voting record like Cheney.
The rivalry between these two isn't going away anytime soon. Whether you think she’s a "true patriot" or a "radical war hawk," the names Trump uses are a window into the current soul-searching happening within the American right.
To stay ahead of the next cycle of political rhetoric, try setting up a Google Alert for "Trump Liz Cheney" to see how these nicknames evolve as we move further into 2026. You can also follow non-partisan trackers that catalog political speech to see how often these specific terms are being used in campaign ads compared to policy debates.