By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily
(this story originally appeared on Cowboy State Daily)
A fist bump exchanged between U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and President Joe Biden before Biden’s joint address to Congress on Wednesday night has drawn the ire of Cheney’s congressional opponents.
While attending Biden’s speech on Wednesday night, Cheney could be seen fist-bumping with the president, who was not shaking hands due to the coronavirus pandemic. Biden fist-bumped multiple other politicians as he entered the House of Representatives’ chambers.
However, this friendly gesture was seen as a slight against the Republican Party, as Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, and Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, noted on their respective social media accounts.
“The lady in blue, @RepLizCheney is probably the only republican allowed in the room,” Bouchard wrote on Twitter. “She is a disgrace and fails to represent the people of Wyoming. #embarrassing#resign#impeachlizcheney. Let’s get her out! Help me fight!”
Bouchard wrote two posts about the fist bump, encouraging impeachment of the representative.
“Never Trump RINO Liz Cheney spends her time attacking Donald Trump but fist bumps her pal Quid Pro Joe Biden,” he wrote Wednesday night. “Liz Cheney cares more about being liked by the Fake News Media, Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi than she does about standing up for America. FIRE LIZ CHENEY!”
Gray’s message was more subdued but offered a sentiment similar to that of the Cheyenne senator.
“Liz, fist bump your way right out of Wyoming. We need to fire Liz right now,” he wrote.
Liz, fist bump your way right out of Wyoming. We need to fire Liz right now. Donate to my campaign: https://t.co/7ohR5q05wL. pic.twitter.com/Vqz8jydK6h
— Chuck Gray (@ChuckForWyoming) April 29, 2021
Both men linked their messages to their respective campaigns, telling prospective voters to donate to them. They each launched their campaigns in the wake of Cheney’s vote to impeach former President Donald Trump, who she blamed for helping to incite the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
County 17 Update: Donald Trump Jr. weighed in on the controversy as well, with a tweet that has currently received 7,900 likes.
“Republican” warmonger Liz Cheney gives Sleepy Joe a fist bump after he delivered a radical socialist vision for the future of America. So glad she’s in the GOP leadership, I guess they wanted to be more inclusive and put Democrats in there too?!? pic.twitter.com/T1qke3TO5b
-- Advertisement – Story Continues Below --— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 29, 2021
For her part, Cheney put out a statement via Twitter that currently has received over 102,000 likes calling for civility in politics.
I disagree strongly w/@JoeBiden policies, but when the President reaches out to greet me in the chamber of the US House of Representatives, I will always respond in a civil, respectful & dignified way. We’re different political parties. We’re not sworn enemies. We’re Americans.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) April 30, 2021
For all things Wyoming, visit Cowboy State Daily online at cowboystatedaily.com and signup for the Cowboy State Coffee Break. Reprinted with permission of Cowboy State Daily. Copyright 2021.
