UPDATE: Trump Officially Endorses Liz Cheney Primary Challenger Harriet Hageman

UPDATE: Trump has now officially endorsed Harriet Hageman in the Republican congressional primary against incumbent Liz Cheney.

Cheney defiantly responded to the news on Twitter:

Here’s a sound bite for you: Bring it. pic.twitter.com/VmET1JUs12

— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) September 9, 2021

Original Article Resumes**

According to multiple news outlets, former President Donald Trump is ready to endorse a primary challenger against Rep. Liz Cheney, who has been outspoken against Trump and critical of her party for embracing him. 

According to both Politico and the Associated Press, Trump will endorse attorney Harriet Hageman in her announced primary against Cheney, anonymous sources say.

Hageman has an interesting history as both an ally of Cheney and as part of anti-Trump forces that tried to stop him from getting the Republican nomination in 2016.

Trump Set To Endorse Harriet Hageman

Politico reported on Wednesday, “Donald Trump is set to back Wyoming attorney Harriet Hageman as she prepares a primary challenge against GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, according to three people with knowledge of his plans, marking the most important political endorsement yet in Trump’s post-presidency.”

“Trump’s looming involvement in the primary will test his political power in the GOP like never before, as he seeks to punish the most high-profile House Republican to vote for his impeachment in January,” Politico observed.

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The Associated Press also reported, “Trump is planning to endorse Wyoming attorney Harriet Hageman, who is preparing to launch a primary campaign against Cheney, the most prominent member of Congress to vote for Trump’s second impeachment, according to a person familiar with his decision,”

“The person spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a formal announcement,” AP noted.

Hageman A Former Supporter Of Cheney

Though Hageman now challenges Cheney, she is a former ally of Cheney. In fact, she worked for Cheney.

The Washington Examiner reported on Thursday, “Wyoming attorney Harriet Hageman announced a challenge to Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, for whom Hageman was formerly a campaign adviser, joining a crowded field of Cheney challengers for Wyoming’s at-large congressional seat.”

“She worked as a campaign adviser to Cheney for her short-lived 2014 Wyoming Senate bid and the 2016 House campaign of former Vice President Dick Cheney’s daughter,” the news outlet added.

Further, Hageman was part of the group of ‘Never Trump’ Republicans who sought to change the rules at the Republican National Convention to deny Trump the nomination in 2016.

Politico reported in July of 2016 that Hageman was present at meetings about the effort, which was led by former Republican Attorney General in Virginia, Ken Cuccinelli: “Cuccinelli also met Friday with a cadre of delegates who intend to back his effort to force rule changes. They included Virginia’s Morton Blackwell and Anne Gentry, Louisiana’s Gwen Bowen, Wyoming’s Harriet Hageman, Minnesota’s Cindy Pugh, Oklahoma’s Megan Winburn and Oregon’s Solomon Yue, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.”

Yet Hageman claims to believe Cheney is no longer able to adequately represent her state due to the congresswoman’s personal battle with the former president.

Hageman said in a statement Thursday, “The people of Wyoming deserve leaders who reflect their views and values, but Liz Cheney betrayed us because of her personal war with President Trump, who won Wyoming by massive majorities twice.” 

Trump Flexing Political Muscle

It has long been known that Trump planned to endorse a challenger to Cheney, but also that he wanted Republicans to have only one primary challenger and not a crowded field.

This endorsement would likely increase Hageman’s chances of emerging victorious from the field of at least 8 candidates currently looking to take on Cheney for the Republican nomination for Wyoming’s at-large Congressional District.

Trump reportedly met with Hageman last month.

The former president appears keen on flexing his political muscle in the midterms by punishing those in his own party who opposed him over the January 6 Capitol attack.

AP reported, “Trump has already endorsed a number of Republicans challenging GOP incumbents including Kelly Tshibaka, who is running against Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska; Michigan State Rep. Steve Carra, who is trying to unseat longtime Rep. Fred Upton; former White House aide Max Miller, who is running against Rep. Anthony Gonzalez in Ohio; and Joe Kent, who is challenging Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in Washington.

“All voted in favor of impeaching Trump for his role in inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol building,” the news outlet noted.

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Trump In July: ‘Loser RINO Liz Cheney’

In July, the Washington Examiner reported on an email sent to them by Trump.

“Paying close attention to the Wyoming House Primary against loser RINO Liz Cheney,” Trump told the Examiner.

“Some highly respected pollsters tell me she’s toast in Wyoming after siding with Crazy Nancy Pelosi and supporting the Democrat Impeachment Hoax,” he wrote.

“And that’s just the beginning!” Trump said, meaning challenging Cheney. “This is a ‘hot’ race with some very interesting candidates running against her.”

“Remember though, in the end we just want ONE CANDIDATE running against Cheney,” Trump emphasized at the time.

It is unclear why Trump would want to endorse someone who tried to stop him from becoming President.