President Joe Biden awarded former GOP congresswoman Liz Cheney the Presidential Citizens Medal on Thursday evening during an event at the White House that was broadcast live by MSNBC.
Cheney received the country’s second-highest civilian medal for her work on the bipartisan Jan. 6 House select committee and for opposing Donald Trump during and after his first term in the White House.
The daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney went on to lose her 2022 primary for reelection in a landslide. Her work with her Democratic colleagues in the House and her vocal opposition to Trump turned a majority of Wyoming’s GOP primary voters to now-Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY).
As one of 20 people who received the medal on Thursday, Cheney was met with applause as she joined Biden on stage. The pair had a brief discussion before Cheney took her seat.
The White House noted Thursday morning:
The Presidential Citizens Medal is awarded to citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. President Biden believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others. The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice.
The Biden administration said in a statement that Cheney displayed “dignity” and “decency.”
“Throughout two decades in public service, including as a Congresswoman for Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6
Jan. 6 committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) received the same award on Thursday.
The White House said Thompson was “at the forefront of defending the rule of law with unwavering integrity and a steadfast commitment to truth” not only while serving in Congress, but by chairing the committee.
Trump has said the committee’s members belong in jail.
Watch above via MSNBC.