Well, folks, here we are in the twilight of President Joe Biden’s term, and he’s handing out medals like it’s the last day of summer camp.
Among the recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal—the second-highest civilian honor in the nation—is none other than former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney. Now, let’s set the stage: This isn’t about bipartisan bridge-building or celebrating decades of public service. No, this medal comes with a very clear subtext—it’s a thank you card for Cheney’s fierce opposition to Donald Trump.
Let’s not beat around the bush: Liz Cheney has become something of a political Rorschach test. To some, she’s a hero—a principled conservative who put country over party when she served as vice chair of the January 6th Committee. To others, she’s a turncoat—a former GOP darling turned Democratic campaign surrogate. And let’s not forget, Cheney didn’t just stop at criticizing Trump; she went all-in, endorsing Kamala Harris for president in 2024 and even hitting the campaign trail with her.
Now, pause for a second and let that sink in. Liz Cheney—daughter of Dick Cheney, staunch conservative, and someone who once painted Kamala Harris as the avatar of progressive chaos—didn’t just quietly vote against Trump. She took the mic, rallied crowds, and actively campaigned for Harris. That’s not a small shift; that’s a full political pirouette.
Kamala Harris is a radical liberal who would raise taxes, take away guns & health insurance, and explode the size and power of the federal gov’t. She wants to recreate America in the image of what’s happening on the streets of Portland & Seattle. We won’t give her the chance.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) August 11, 2020
But here’s the twist in this political drama: despite Cheney’s efforts, despite her speeches and her campaign appearances, the voters weren’t exactly moved en masse by her appeal. The election results didn’t show a tidal wave of conservatives crossing party lines to follow her lead. And yet, here we are, with President Biden pinning a medal on her lapel as a symbol of “service to the nation.”
Now, is this medal really about Cheney’s lifetime of public service? Or is it a closing statement from the Biden administration—a symbolic jab at Trump as Biden exits stage left? You don’t have to be a political strategist to see what’s happening here. This medal is less about Cheney’s conservative roots or her policy positions and more about her role as a high-profile Trump critic.
But let’s also not forget the irony. Liz Cheney has spent most of her political life championing staunch conservative values and standing firmly against progressive agendas. Her previous remarks about Kamala Harris—calling her vision a dystopian blueprint drawn from the streets of Portland and Seattle—weren’t made in passing. They were clear and forceful. And yet, here we are, with Cheney campaigning for Harris and now receiving one of the nation’s highest civilian honors from a Democratic president.
Look, medals and honors in Washington have always carried a certain amount of political theater. This isn’t new. But it’s hard to ignore the optics here. Liz Cheney isn’t being recognized for bipartisan accomplishments or sweeping legislative victories. She’s being honored for standing in opposition to Donald Trump—and for aligning herself, albeit temporarily, with the Biden-Harris ticket.