George W Bush to fundraise for Liz Cheney amid Trump-backed GOP primary challenge

Former President George W. Bush’s first campaign event of the 2022 midterm election cycle will be a fundraiser for Rep. Liz Cheney, placing the GOP’s two living former presidents on opposite sides of the party’s primary in Wyoming.

Cheney, who represents the Equality State’s single congressional district, became a target for former President Donald Trump after she voted to impeach him following the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Cheney was later removed from her leadership position in the House Republican conference after she criticized Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud. Cheney was named earlier this month as vice chairwoman of the committee investigating the January attack.

Trump endorsed Harriet Hageman, one of Cheney’s primary challengers in the race, one of several primary endorsements he’s made against his Republican critics.

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The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the fundraiser will take place in Dallas, Texas, next month, and will be co-hosted by Karl Rove, a longtime Bush adviser who also advised Trump during his 2020 campaign, as well as former Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, former Hunt Oil Co. Chief Executive Ray Hunt, and ex-Bush White House officials Harriet Miers and Karen Hughes.

Cheney, who is a daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is currently out-fundraising her GOP rivals, raising $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2021.

Bush, who initially avoided criticizing his successors after leaving the White House, has become more vocal in his disapproval of Trump. In remarks in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, earlier this month marking the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Bush said, “We have seen growing evidence that the dangers to our country can come not only across borders, but from violence that gathers within.”

“There is little cultural overlap between violent extremists abroad and violent extremists at home,” Bush said, in what was seen as a reference to the Capitol rioters. “But in their disdain for pluralism, in their disregard for human life, in their determination to defile national symbols, they are children of the same foul spirit. And it is our continuing duty to confront them.”

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In a statement, Trump appeared to blame Bush for the attacks, saying, “The World Trade Center came down during his watch.”

“Bush led a failed and uninspiring presidency,” Trump said. “He shouldn’t be lecturing anybody!”