Dick Cheney attacks Donald Trump as ‘greatest threat to our republic’

Dick Cheney has branded Donald Trump the greatest "threat to our republic", in a new campaign ad for his daughter, Liz Cheney, who is running for re-election in Wyoming.

"In our nation's 236-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump," said Cheney, who served as vice-president for two terms under George W Bush.

Cheney said: "He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him.

"He is a coward. A real man wouldn't lie to his supporters. He lost his election, and he lost big. I know it, he knows it, and deep down I think most Republicans know it."

Cheney went on to speak about how proud he was of his daughter "for standing up to the truth, doing what's right, honoring her oath to the constitution when so many in our party are too scared to do so".

The one-minute ad featured the elder Cheney's sharpest public attacks against Trump to date. Best known as the most powerful vice-president in American history, and a major figure in leading the US to war in Iraq, he has taken to defending his daughter in her fight against Trump.

"There's nothing more important she will ever do than lead the effort to make sure Donald Trump is never near the Oval Office. And she will succeed," he said in the ad.