Politics is a wild ride, but some rivalries just never seem to cool down. If you were online last night, you probably saw the name Liz Cheney trending again next to Donald Trump. It feels like 2024 all over again, doesn't it? Honestly, the friction between these two has become a permanent fixture of the American political landscape, and the latest comments have everyone talking.
People are digging for the exact transcript. They want to know if he actually said what the headlines are screaming.
What Trump Said About Liz Cheney Last Night: Breaking Down the Rhetoric
Basically, during his most recent appearance, Trump leaned heavily into his familiar critique of Cheney as a "radical war hawk." This isn't exactly new territory for him, but the intensity seems to have ramped up as the 2026 midterm cycle begins to cast its long shadow. He’s been fixated on her role in the January 6th Committee, often calling her "deranged" or "dumb."
Last night was no different. He doubled down on the idea that Cheney—and others who investigated him—should face legal consequences for their work on the panel. You've heard the "enemy from within" line before, right? Well, he tied her right back into that narrative, suggesting that her actions weren't just political opposition but something much more sinister.
It’s worth noting that this latest spark comes just weeks after the five-year anniversary of the Capitol riot. While Cheney is no longer in office, her shadow looms large. Trump remains convinced that her involvement in the investigation was a personal betrayal of the party, and he isn't letting it go. Not now. Not ever.
The War Hawk Narrative Returns
One of the biggest talking points from last night involved the "firing squad" imagery that first surfaced back in late 2024. While he didn't necessarily call for a literal execution last night, he revisited the sentiment that people who support foreign wars should have to experience the front lines themselves.
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"Let's see how she feels with guns trained on her face," is the phrase that usually gets cited from his past Arizona appearance with Tucker Carlson. Last night, he echoed that sentiment, arguing that Cheney is quick to send "America’s sons and daughters" to fight in "endless wars" while she stays safe in Washington.
The Trump campaign's defense has always been that he's talking about the reality of combat, not inciting violence. Critics, obviously, see it differently. They argue that using violent metaphors when talking about political opponents is a dangerous game that can be interpreted as a literal threat by his most ardent followers.
Why This Feud Still Matters in 2026
You might be wondering why we're still talking about Liz Cheney in 2026. She lost her seat in Wyoming by a landslide to Harriet Hageman. She’s effectively a private citizen.
But here is the thing: Cheney has become the ultimate symbol of the "Never Trump" movement within the GOP. For Trump, she is the "white whale." As long as she is out there giving speeches or appearing on news segments, she represents a version of the Republican Party that he has fought to dismantle.
- The January 6th Legacy: Trump’s allies in the House are currently "re-investigating" the original investigation. They’re looking for deleted files and trying to discredit the work Cheney did.
- The 2026 Midterms: Trump is using Cheney as a litmus test. If a candidate doesn't sufficiently denounce her "betrayal," they risk losing his endorsement.
- Legal Pressure: There is constant chatter about the Department of Justice and whether a second Trump administration would actually follow through on threats to investigate the investigators.
Cheney’s Response to the Latest Attacks
Liz Cheney hasn't exactly been quiet. She’s been posting on X (formerly Twitter) and appearing at various forums, consistently calling Trump "unstable" and a "threat to the republic."
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After last night’s comments, her camp released a brief statement. It didn't mince words. She essentially said that Trump's rhetoric is exactly why she continues to speak out. She views his language as the "tool of a dictator" intended to silence dissent through intimidation.
It’s a classic stalemate. Trump uses his platform to consolidate his base by attacking a "traitor," and Cheney uses those attacks to justify her continued crusade against him. It's a feedback loop that shows no signs of breaking.
Fact-Checking the "Firing Squad" Controversy
Let’s get into the weeds for a second because context is everything. When people search for what Trump said about Liz Cheney last night, they are often looking for the "firing squad" quote.
In the original context from the 2024 Glendale event, Trump was answering a question about whether it was weird to see Cheney campaigning with Democrats. He called her a "very dumb individual" and then made the comment about putting her with a rifle with "nine barrels shooting at her" to see how she feels about war.
Last night, he didn't repeat the "nine barrels" line exactly, but he referred back to the "war hawk" sentiment. He argued that his previous comments were "perfectly handled" and that the media "faked" the outrage by calling it a death threat.
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The Real Intent vs. The Perception
Is he calling for violence? Or is he making a point about interventionist foreign policy?
If you ask a Trump supporter, they’ll tell you he’s being a "peace candidate" who hates the military-industrial complex. They see Cheney as the embodiment of the Bush-era "forever wars." To them, the "guns in the face" comment is a metaphor for the horror of war that armchair generals never have to see.
If you ask a Cheney supporter, or a non-partisan security expert, they’ll point to the "stochastic terrorism" theory. This is the idea that when a leader uses violent language against a specific person, it increases the statistical probability that someone out there will take it literally and act on it.
Actionable Insights: How to Navigate the Noise
In an era of deepfakes and 24-hour outrage cycles, how do you actually figure out what’s real?
- Watch the Full Clip: Never rely on a 10-second snippet on social media. Trump’s speaking style is "The Weave"—he wanders through different topics and eventually ties them back together. You need the full five minutes to see where a thought started.
- Check Primary Sources: Look for the actual transcript from the rally or interview. Avoid "opinion" pieces that tell you how to feel about the quote before they even give you the quote.
- Understand the History: You can't understand why he’s mad at Cheney without knowing about the 2022 Wyoming primary and the inner workings of the January 6th Select Committee.
- Ignore the Hyperbole: Both sides use extreme language. Words like "traitor," "dictator," "insurrectionist," and "tyrant" are thrown around so often they’ve lost some of their sting, but they still drive the algorithm.
The reality is that Donald Trump and Liz Cheney are locked in a historical struggle over the soul of the Republican Party. Whether you think he’s a bold truth-teller or she’s a principled patriot, their feud is the clearest window we have into the current divide in American politics. Expect more of this as the 2026 election season kicks into high gear.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the House Subcommittee's "re-investigation" of the January 6th panel. That is where the legal rubber will eventually meet the road.