CNN contributor takes back Cheney 'firing squad' quip: 'I was wrong'

Political analyst Jonah Goldberg retracted comments made during a Friday CNN appearance in response to former President Trump’s criticism of former Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-Wyo.) foreign policy.

“This morning on CNN I referred to Trump’s ‘rifles’ quote as him advocating a ‘firing squad’ for Liz Cheney. I was reacting in haste to what were objectively appalling and irresponsible comments that had been framed in the set-up piece in the context of previous statements Trump made about shooting protestors and having generals ‘executed,’” Goldberg wrote in a statement posted to the social platform X.

He added that his comments were “wrong” and did not encompass the true meaning of the former president’s remarks.

“Trump was making – albeit in his customary fashion – a different argument about Cheney’s alleged foreign policy views and the use of force,” Goldberg stated. “I let my disgust at Trump’s comments get the better of me as this was the first time I’d heard them.”

“I regret the initial comment because it was inaccurate and contributed to the kind of overheated environment Trump thrives on,” he continued. “Trump’s words were bad enough.”

The Republican nominee labeled Cheney a “radical war hawk” on Thursday.

"Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK. Let’s see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face," Trump said. "You know, they’re all war hawks when they’re sitting in Washington in a nice building saying, 'oh, gee, we’ll, let’s send — let’s send 10,000 troops right into the mouth of the enemy.'”

He faced immediate backlash for the violent language.

Later, the Trump campaign clarified the public comments, which were made at a fireside chat with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in Arizona.

“President Trump is 100% correct that warmongers like Liz Cheney are very quick to start wars and send other Americans to fight them, rather than go into combat themselves. This is the continuation of the latest fake media outrage days before the election in a blatant attempt to interfere on behalf of Kamala Harris,” said Karoline Leavitt, Trump campaign national press secretary.

Cheney also responded through a post on X comparing Trump’s rhetoric to a “dictator.”

“This is how dictators destroy free nations. They threaten those who speak against them with death,” Cheney said. “We cannot entrust our country and our freedom to a petty, vindictive, cruel, unstable man who wants to be a tyrant. #Womenwillnotbesilenced #VoteKamala.”

Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney and once the third-ranking House Republican, is one of the highest-profile GOP figures to endorse and campaign for the Harris-Walz ticket.