Cheney Issues Head-Scratching Statement Following Trump Victory
During a Wednesday segment of Morning Joe, co-host Mika Brzezinski addressed a statement from former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) about President-elect Donald Trump’s recent victory. Brzezinski was joined by writer and international affairs analyst Tom Nichols to discuss Cheney’s remarks.
“Tom, in your latest piece for The Atlantic, you argue that democracy is not over,” Brzezinski began, before turning to Cheney’s strong statement. “I’m going to get to that in just a moment. But first, here’s what Liz Cheney had to say about the election results.”
Reading Cheney’s statement, Brzezinski said, “She tweeted, ‘Our nation’s democratic system functioned last night and we have a new president-elect. All Americans are bound, whether we like the outcome or not, to accept the results of our elections. We now have a special responsibility as citizens of the greatest nation on Earth to support and defend our Constitution, preserve the rule of law, and ensure that our institutions hold over these coming four years. Citizens across this country, our courts, members of the press, and those serving in our federal, state, and local governments must now be the guardrails of democracy.’” Brzezinski then asked Nichols about “the possibility that that can happen.”
Nichols responded, “Well, in a way, I’m relieved that Trump won an outright majority, because I don’t think the country could have handled another election where the Electoral College produced a controversial outcome where the popular vote winner isn’t the president,” he said, despite the Electoral College being established by the Founders to balance interests across diverse regions of the country.
“This brings clarity,” Nichols added. “As Donny pointed out, we don’t have to confront people on this, but we can recognize this was a clear choice. This is what the American people—51 percent of them—wanted. It’s not an accident or interference from Russia; it’s a deliberate choice. Trump is the legitimately elected president.”
Nichols then agreed with Cheney’s statement, saying, “What Cheney said is absolutely right. As I mentioned in my own statement this morning, if you truly value democracy, you need to be mindful of what’s happening in our courts, state legislatures, federal civil service, and the military. These institutions remain, and they need our protection.”
Nichols expressed concern over a shift he sensed among some American voters. “I’ve had a bad feeling about this election for a while,” he said. “It was solidified during a recent conversation with a Trump supporter in Pennsylvania. It became clear to me that no amount of analysis—whether about what Biden, Harris, Walz, or Shapiro could have done—would change this outcome. There’s a deeper shift happening in America that’s concerning,” he added, though he didn’t elaborate further.
World leaders have already extended their congratulations to Trump on his historic comeback, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who shared his message on the X platform.
“Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback!” Netanyahu wrote. “Your historic return to the White House marks a new beginning for America and a reaffirmation of the great alliance between Israel and the U.S. This is a huge victory!” he added, alongside a photo with his wife, Sara, and Trump.