Political leaders from both major parties gathered in Washington, DC, on Thursday to bid farewell to former Vice President Dick Cheney, a dominant figure in pre-MAGA Republican politics whose legacy still looms large over US national security and foreign policy.
Cheney, who served as vice president under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, died on November 3 at the age of 84.
The invitation-only funeral, held at Washington National Cathedral, drew an array of high-profile attendees, including former Presidents Joe Biden and George W. Bush, as well as former First Ladies Jill Biden and Laura Bush. All living former vice presidents — Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore and Dan Quayle — were also present.
Noticeably absent were President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who were not invited, according to a source familiar with the arrangements. Vance offered a brief tribute, describing Cheney as “a guy who served his country” and extending condolences to his family. Trump has not publicly commented on Cheney’s death.
Cheney received full military honours, reflecting his decades of service as defense secretary, White House chief of staff, and a congressman representing Wyoming, in addition to his eight years as vice president.
In a warm and often personal eulogy, Bush praised Cheney as a steady and disciplined public servant who elevated those around him.
“His abilities were self-evident, without need of calculation or self-promotion,” Bush said. “His talent and restraint exceeded his ego.” He recalled initially appointing Cheney to lead the search for a running mate in 2000 — only to decide that Cheney himself was the best choice. Cheney, Bush noted, responded by listing reasons he shouldn’t be picked, underscoring his reluctance and methodical nature.
Also in attendance were Supreme Court justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Elena Kagan, alongside a large contingent of current and former Cabinet officials and congressional leaders. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and former GOP leader Mitch McConnell were among those present.
Cheney was remembered not only as an architect of the Iraq War — a role that left him highly unpopular in later years — but also for more progressive stances on some social issues, notably support for gay marriage. Former Pentagon press secretary Pete Williams, who was outed as gay in 1991, recalled offering to resign; Cheney refused and personally reassured him, urging him to continue his work.
In his final years, Cheney broke decisively with Trump, denouncing him as a “coward” and “the greatest threat to our republic.” He backed Kamala Harris over Trump in 2024, a choice his daughter Liz Cheney framed as a clear stand for the Constitution over party loyalty.
The service’s programme closed with a quote from naturalist John Muir: “The mountains are calling and I must go.” It was a quiet final note for a man whose career reshaped American power — and whose absence still defines the Republican Party’s internal battles.
