On the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., took to Twitter to criticize President Joe Biden’s “politicization” of the incident.

Graham tweeted that Biden was “brazen” in his politicization of Jan. 6, then referenced al-Qaeda and the Taliban, asking if the Taliban would allow the speech to be broadcast in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., were among the few Republicans in attendance for much of the Jan. 6 anniversary events on Capitol Hill. The elder Cheney followed in his daughter’s footsteps, criticizing GOP leadership, which has largely sought to minimize or completely ignore the attempted insurrection.

Cheney’s words and Graham’s tweet reveal a fracture in a party that's voting base still largely supports Trump, who is viewed by Democrats as the major catalyst for the events of Jan. 6. Many Republicans, despite initially condemning Trump and the Jan. 6 riots, have fallen in line with supporting Trump.

However, Graham’s tweet also reveals that the rift between Republicans and Democrats is greater than ever since the insurrection. Graham and Biden were once friendly with each other before Trump’s rise to the highest political office in the U.S.

US Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, is seen at the US Capitol on January 7, 2021, denouncing the previous day's attack by inflamed Trump supporters on the historic building; he says impeaching Donald Trump would serve no purpose
US Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, is seen at the US Capitol on January 7, 2021, denouncing the previous day's attack by inflamed Trump supporters on the historic building; he says impeaching Donald Trump would serve no purpose GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / ALEX WONG

Cheney, who was wearing a mask, used his appearance on Capitol Hill to criticize Graham and other GOP leaders who have followed Trump’s narrative in a single file line. Though, according to ABC, Cheney commented he was there to commemorate the “important historical event” and to “support” his daughter who he said was doing a “[heck] of a job” and he was “proud” of her.

“You can’t overestimate how important it is,” he said of the events of Jan. 6, 2021. “I'm deeply disappointed we don't have better leadership in the Republican Party to restore the Constitution.”

He said that the Republican Party of today is “dramatically” different from the one he knew a decade ago and that he was “deeply disappointed.”

Dick Cheney was considered a highly influential vice president to George W. Bush
Dick Cheney was considered a highly influential vice president to George W. Bush GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Brendan Hoffman
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