During a commencement speech at her alma mater over the weekend, former Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney fueled speculation about a possible presidential run in 2024.

The Associated Press reported that Cheney “encouraged new college graduates not to compromise when it comes to the truth, while excoriating her House Republican colleagues for not doing enough to combat former President Donald Trump” following the 2020 election.

“In a commencement speech at Colorado College, the Wyoming Republican repeated her fierce criticisms of Trump but steered clear of talking about his 2024 reelection campaign or her own political future,” the AP noted.

Cheney, a 1988 graduate of Colorado College with a degree in political science, recalled a time when she entered a campus building adorned with a Bible verse that left an enduring impression: “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”

“After the 2020 election and the attack of January 6th, my fellow Republicans wanted me to lie. They wanted me to say the 2020 election was stolen, the attack of January 6th wasn’t a big deal, and Donald Trump wasn’t dangerous,” Cheney said Sunday in Colorado Springs. “I had to choose between lying and losing my position in House leadership.”

Nonetheless, with each public appearance and her fixation on Trump, rumors continue to spread that she is at least considering running against him for the 2024 Republican nomination, which would be an extremely remote possibility.

Since leaving office, Cheney’s active schedule of speaking engagements and the topics she addresses have prompted speculation about her potential candidacy in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. According to the Associated Press, candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley are attempting to strike a balance in their remarks about Trump, countering his criticisms while also maintaining the support of the base that propelled him to the presidency seven years ago.

In the interim, Cheney assumed a new position as a professor of practice at the University of Virginia earlier this year.

“With democracy under fire in this country and elsewhere around the world, Liz Cheney serves as a model of political courage and leadership. Liz will send a compelling message to students about integrity. She’s a true profile in courage, and she was willing to pay the price for her principles — and democracy itself,” the university’s Center For Politics director, Larry Sabato, said in a statement at the time.

Cheney released a statement in which she expressed her optimism that her work at the university will “contribute to finding lasting solutions that not only preserve but also strengthen our democracy” at a time when “there are many threats facing our system of government.”

Cheney’s contract includes the option to renew for one or more years, indicating she has the option to not teach in 2024 if she has other plans.

More on this story via Conservative Brief:

“Preserving our constitutional republic is the most important work of our time, and our nation’s young people will play a crucial role in this effort,” she said. “I look forward to working with students and colleagues at the Center to advance the important work they and others at the University of Virginia are doing to improve the health of democracy here and around the world.” CONTINUE READING…