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President Biden said “I don’t understand the Republicans” on Wednesday when he was asked about a GOP push to oust Rep. Liz Cheney from her No. 3 House leadership post.

Biden made the brief comment to reporters — the first time he has weighed in on the Cheney leadership issue — as he returned to his motorcade from a Cinco de Mayo stop at a Washington, DC, taqueria.

Cheney (R-Wyo.) is all but certain to lose her position as chair of the House Republican Caucus over her continued denunciations of former President Donald Trump.

Asked about his remark, Biden told reporters Wednesday afternoon at the White House that “it seems as though the Republican Party is trying to identify what it stands for. And they’re in the midst of a significant sort of mini revolution going on the Republican Party.”

Biden claimed the power struggle may make it more difficult for Republicans to retake power — which may amount to wishful thinking for Democrats given their razor-thin majorities in Congress and the fact that midterm elections often disfavor the president’s party.

“We need a two-party system. It’s not healthy to have a one-party system. And I think the Republicans are further away from trying to figure out who they are and what they stand for than I thought they would be at this point,” Biden said.

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik is the leading contender to replace Cheney. On Wednesday, the upstate congresswoman received Trump’s endorsement after securing House Minority Whip Steve Scalise’s support.

Republicans initially stood by Cheney after she voted in January to impeach Trump for allegedly inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.


  Republicans are pushing to remove Rep. Liz Cheney as chair of the House Republican Caucus over her denunciations of former President Donald Trump. AP/J. Scott Applewhite Republicans are pushing to remove Rep. Liz Cheney as chair of the House Republican Caucus over her denunciations of former President Donald Trump. AP/J. Scott Applewhite

In February, she survived an effort by Trump allies to eject her from her leadership post. Cheney prevailed in a 145-61 vote.

But Cheney’s continued statements about Trump eroded her support, most notably among Republican leaders trying to reunify the party ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. She recently lost the backing of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).


  Rep. Elise Stefanik is the leading contender to replace Rep. Liz Cheney if she is removed from her position. GREG NASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Rep. Elise Stefanik is the leading contender to replace Rep. Liz Cheney if she is removed from her position. GREG NASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Stefanik, first elected in 2014, was a member of Trump’s ceremonial defense team last year during his first Senate impeachment trial for pressuring Ukraine to investigate Democrats, including alleged Biden family corruption.


  President Joe Biden was asked his thoughts on the Cheney situation after leaving the restaurant, Taqueria Las Gemelas, in Washington, DC. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images President Joe Biden was asked his thoughts on the Cheney situation after leaving the restaurant, Taqueria Las Gemelas, in Washington, DC. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

Cheney, a daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, and Trump clashed while he was in office, including on Afghanistan war policy.

In December, Trump vetoed a $740 billion defense bill in part because of Cheney-pushed restrictions on removing troops from Afghanistan, Germany and South Korea.


  House Republican Conference Chairperson Liz Cheney (right) recently lost the backing of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (left). REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst House Republican Conference Chairperson Liz Cheney (right) recently lost the backing of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (left). REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Trump adviser Jason Miller joked Wednesday on Twitter, “I think Liz Cheney has found the only war she’s ever regretted getting into!”

Trump denounced Cheney by name during a speech to supporters immediately before the Capitol riot.

“We’ve got to get rid of the weak congresspeople, the ones that aren’t any good, the Liz Cheneys of the world, we got to get rid of them. We got to get rid. You know, she never wants a soldier brought home,” Trump said.

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