Former national security adviser John Bolton said the Wyoming Republican was a “principled leader,” and said the GOP would need “lots of leaders” willing to speak their minds.

His support for Cheney was echoed by anti-Trump Republicans, with the Republican Voters Against Trump group arguing the attacks on her indicated the GOP tent was “getting pretty small.”

Former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a Republican who retired from Congress in 2018 and warned the party would be “doomed” were Trump to be re-elected, also defended Cheney’s splits from the president.

“Any member of the legislative branch who agrees with the head of the executive branch all of the time is not doing their job,” he tweeted on Tuesday, sharing a Washington Post report on Cheney’s loyalty to Trump coming into question.

Responding to the criticism of the representative, Bolton said: “I know Liz Cheney as a principled leader who puts her country first. In the coming months, we are going to need lots of leaders to step up, speak their minds, & stand for their beliefs.”

Republican Voters Against Trump added that the Republican Party’s tent was “getting pretty small” if Cheney was being called a “RINO,” or Republican In Name Only.

“This might explain the growing number of Republican Voters Against Trump,” the group added.

The Republicans lined up behind Cheney as Politico reported that the congresswoman was the target of attacks at a House Freedom Caucus meeting yesterday.

Unnamed sources told the news website that Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) said the Wyoming Republican was undermining the party’s hopes of winning House seats in November with her public splits from the president. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) reportedly rebuked her along similar lines.

In the wake of the meeting, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) called for Cheney’s ouster from the GOP.

“Liz Cheney has worked behind the scenes (and now in public) against @realDonaldTrump and his agenda,” he tweeted. “House Republicans deserve better as our Conference Chair. Liz Cheney should step down or be removed.”

The president’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr. also lashed out at the congresswoman, saying: “We already have one Mitt Romney, we don’t need another… we also don’t need the endless wars she advocates for.”

Newsweek has contacted Cheney’s office for comment, and will update this article with any response.