Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., on Sunday took aim at Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren over her claims to Native American ancestry after being asked about President Trump’s apparent reference to the “Trail of Tears” in a tweet mocking the Massachusetts senator.
“You know, I have concerns about somebody like Elizabeth Warren pretending to be a Native American. You are absolutely right, I do represent thousands of Native Americans here in Wyoming, and the notion that anybody of any political party would pretend that they were a member of a tribe or would pretend they were Native American and would do it as she seems to have done it in order to get benefits, that is, in my view, the disgrace,” Cheney said during an interview on CNN. “And so I think she’s made herself a laughingstock.”
.@jaketapper: “What about the language the President uses and the joking references to genocide against Native Americans?”@RepLizCheney: “Elizabeth Warren has made herself a laughingstock.” https://t.co/hgwicQep8h #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/NJKfAhePMm
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) February 10, 2019
Shortly after Warren officially launched her bid for the White House on Saturday, Trump mockingly welcomed the challenge from the Democrat who has repeatedly apologized for identifying as Native American in the past and for taking a DNA test last year which suggested she had a distant Native American relative.
“Today Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to by me as Pocahontas, joined the race for President. Will she run as our first Native American presidential candidate, or has she decided that after 32 years, this is not playing so well anymore? See you on the campaign TRAIL, Liz!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Today Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to by me as Pocahontas, joined the race for President. Will she run as our first Native American presidential candidate, or has she decided that after 32 years, this is not playing so well anymore? See you on the campaign TRAIL, Liz!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2019
Pressed to respond to the president’s allusion to the forced relocation of tribes in the 1800s which led to thousands of deaths, Cheney reiterated how Warren had become an object of ridicule.
“Look, Elizabeth Warren has made herself a laughingstock. I don’t think anybody should be surprised that that’s been the reaction to her and to her continued claims,” Cheney said.
