The third-ranking House Republican said Tuesday that Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) should “find another line of work” after his comments questioning why the terms “white supremacist” and “white nationalist” had become offensive.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the House GOP conference chairwoman, suggested King should leave after GOP leaders moved Monday night to strip him of all committee assignments for the new Congress.
{mosads}Cheney echoed a statement from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) the day before, who said: “Rep. King’s statements are unwelcome and unworthy of his elected position. If he doesn’t understand why ‘white supremacy’ is offensive, he should find another line of work.”
When asked if King should resign, Cheney told reporters at a press conference: “I agree with Leader McConnell, actually. I think he should find another line of work.”
“His language questioning whether or not the notion of white supremacy is offensive is absolutely abhorrent, it’s racist. We do not support it or agree with it,” Cheney said.
Two other Republicans have also called for King to resign: Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, and Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah).
Cheney went further than House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who declined to say if King should resign.
“I think that’s up to Steve King. The voters have elected him. The House Republicans denounce his language,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy further declined to say if the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) would support a primary challenge against King. The NRCC historically does not get involved in GOP primaries.
“This is still early about whether Steve King is even running for reelection again,” McCarthy said. “Steve King can make that decision, but that decision will come down to his own voters.”
Iowa state Sen. Randy Feenstra (R) announced a primary challenge against King last week. Another Republican, Bret Richards, told the Des Moines Register last week that he also plans to run against King.
-Updated 11:12 a.m.