Bush, Biden Attend Dick Cheney Funeral, But Trump Not Invited/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Washington honored former Vice President Dick Cheney with a bipartisan memorial at the National Cathedral, where Presidents Bush and Biden paid tribute. Absent from the ceremony was Donald Trump, who was not invited amid lingering tensions with the Cheney family. The event reflected Cheney’s enduring influence and controversial legacy.
Cheney Funeral Tributes Quick Looks
- Dick Cheney honored at Washington National Cathedral on Nov. 20.
- George W. Bush delivers emotional eulogy for his former VP.
- Joe Biden, once a Cheney critic, attends in bipartisan spirit.
- Donald Trump, JD Vance were not invited to the ceremony.
- Liz Cheney joins Bush in honoring her father’s legacy.
- Cheney’s doctor recalls his strength through years of illness.
- No official Trump statement or proclamation after Cheney’s death.
- Cheney remembered for loyalty, restraint, and controversial decisions.
Deep Look
Dick Cheney’s State Funeral Highlights Political Legacy, While Trump’s Absence Underscores Ongoing Divide
Washington D.C. — Former Vice President Dick Cheney was memorialized Thursday with a bipartisan outpouring of respect at Washington National Cathedral, where political figures from both sides of the aisle gathered to honor one of the most influential and polarizing statesmen of modern American history. Missing from the service, however, was Donald Trump, a deliberate exclusion that underscored the deep ideological rift between the former president and the Cheney family.
Cheney, who passed away on Nov. 3 at the age of 84 due to complications from pneumonia and longstanding heart disease, received tributes from a packed cathedral filled with former presidents, lawmakers, and political heavyweights.
Bush and Biden Attend, Trump Left Out
Among those attending were former President George W. Bush, who worked closely with Cheney during two terms in office, and President Joe Biden, who once harshly criticized Cheney but paid his respects at the service. Bush delivered the main eulogy, remembering Cheney as a steady, competent leader whose “talent and restraint exceeded his ego.”
“Solid and rare and reliable,” Bush said of his vice president, praising a man whose “talent and his restraint” exceeded his ego. “Smart and polished, without airs.”
In contrast, Donald Trump—who has remained silent publicly about Cheney’s passing—was not invited to the service. Neither was Vice President JD Vance, a Trump ally, despite being present at another event that morning where he briefly acknowledged Cheney’s service. “Obviously there’s some political disagreements,” Vance said, “but he was a guy who served his country.”
The White House did lower flags to half-staff as required by law, but Trump notably declined to issue a customary presidential proclamation or comment on Cheney’s death—an omission widely seen as political.
A Bipartisan Gathering Amid Polarization
The somber ceremony saw former Vice Presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore, and Dan Quayle in attendance, alongside Congressional leaders including Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi. The moment served as a rare bipartisan display in a deeply divided Washington.
Liz Cheney, Cheney’s daughter and a former Republican Congresswoman who lost her seat due to her vocal opposition to Trump, also gave a speech honoring her father. Once a rising GOP figure, Liz Cheney became a symbol of conservative resistance to Trumpism, especially during her role as vice chair of the House Jan. 6 investigation.
The service featured additional tributes from Cheney’s grandchildren, former NBC journalist Pete Williams, and longtime cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who said Cheney defied doctors’ expectations for decades. “He was always the calmest person in the room,” Reiner recalled.
Cheney’s Complicated Legacy
Dick Cheney leaves behind a legacy marked by power, loyalty, and controversy. His role in the post-9/11 Bush administration—including championing the Iraq War and defending the use of extraordinary surveillance and interrogation methods—made him a hero to some and a villain to others.
Despite that divisiveness, many in attendance focused on his dedication to public service, family, and conservative principles. Even President Biden, who once called Cheney “the most dangerous vice president we’ve had,” honored his consistency and personal integrity.
A Final Clash with Trumpism
In his later years, Cheney became an outspoken critic of Donald Trump. He supported his daughter’s efforts on the Jan. 6 committee and did not shy away from public condemnation of Trump’s role in inciting the Capitol riot.
In a 2022 political ad, he directly attacked Trump, saying, “He’s a coward… who tried to steal the last election using lies and violence.” That stance made Cheney a rare figure among establishment Republicans willing to challenge the former president.
Trump, for his part, responded to the elder Cheney’s criticism with characteristic venom. At one point, he told Arab and Muslim communities that Cheney’s endorsement of Kamala Harris should be disqualifying, calling Cheney responsible for more Arab deaths than any other political figure due to the Iraq invasion.
Looking Ahead
Cheney’s funeral was more than a remembrance—it was a reflection of the ideological crossroads the Republican Party continues to face. While some Republicans quietly acknowledged Cheney’s service and legacy, others remain firmly in Trump’s camp, resisting any narrative that challenges the current GOP direction.
With Cheney’s passing, the conservative movement loses a deeply complex figure—one revered and reviled, yet undeniably influential. His funeral symbolized not just the end of an era but also the unresolved tensions shaping America’s political future.
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