During an impromptu address following his inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump directed sharp criticism at former Representative Liz Cheney. In his speech, Trump labeled Cheney a “radical war hawk” and mocked her recent political endeavors. He suggested that Cheney, who had campaigned against him, would be ineffective in a combat situation, stating, “Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK? And let’s see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face.”
These remarks were met with significant backlash. Liz Cheney responded by condemning Trump’s rhetoric, stating, “This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death.”
The Arizona Attorney General, Kris Mayes, announced an investigation into whether Trump’s comments constituted a death threat under state law.
This incident underscores the escalating tensions between President Trump and his political adversaries, particularly those within the Republican Party. It also raises concerns about the use of violent imagery in political discourse and its potential implications for democratic institutions.