House Republican leaders as well as some rank-and-file members have said that Cheney's statements in recent weeks about Trump are a distraction and that she should focus on issues that unite the party.

But Cheney, R-Wyo., brushed aside those warnings Monday after Trump issued a statement attempting to commandeer the term "Big Lie," commonly used to refer to the false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, by asserting that the term should now refer to President Joe Biden's election victory.

Cheney quickly condemned Trump's comment as well as anyone who supports his statements about the election.

"The 2020 presidential election was not stolen," Cheney tweeted. "Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system."