On Thursday, November 20, 2025, the grand nave of Washington National Cathedral filled once again with the echoes of history, reverence, and reflection. More than 1,000 guests gathered beneath the cathedral’s soaring arches to honor the life and legacy of former Vice President Dick Cheney—one of the most influential, and polarizing, figures in American politics over the last half-century.
Cheney, who died earlier this month at age 84 from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, was memorialized in a service that drew together a bipartisan constellation of Washington’s most powerful. According to ABC News, former President Joe Biden confirmed his attendance, and former President George W. Bush, Cheney’s two-term running mate, was scheduled to deliver a tribute. Cheney’s daughter, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, and several of his grandchildren were also named among the speakers, as noted by CNN and The Hill.
The invitation-only funeral, held at 11 a.m. Eastern Time, was an interparty affair reminiscent of an era when political rivalries often gave way to mutual respect during moments of national reflection. The guest list included all four living former vice presidents—Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore, and Dan Quayle—as well as two former presidents, George W. Bush and Joe Biden. Supreme Court Justices John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and Elena Kagan were also in attendance, alongside congressional leaders such as Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Mitch McConnell, CNN reported.
Washington National Cathedral, just miles from the White House, has long served as the nation’s ceremonial heart—hosting state funerals for presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush. Cheney’s funeral, steeped in tradition and military honors, placed him among these national giants. Honorary pallbearers included members of his Secret Service detail, former chiefs of staff David Addington and Scooter Libby, and photographer David Hume Kennerly, according to CNN.
Yet, the event was not without its pointed absences and political undertones. Notably, neither President Donald Trump nor Vice President JD Vance were invited to the ceremony—a detail confirmed by sources familiar with the arrangements and highlighted by CNN and Politico. Trump, who had a long and contentious relationship with Cheney in recent years, was silent on the former vice president’s passing. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump was "aware" of Cheney’s death, and flags were lowered to half-staff in accordance with statutory law, as reported by Benzinga and ABC News.
The absence of Trump and Vance was a reflection of the deep rifts that have emerged within the Republican Party since the rise of the so-called MAGA movement. Cheney, once a hardline conservative and supporter of Trump’s 2016 campaign, became a fierce critic of the former president after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. His daughter, Liz Cheney, played a prominent role in the congressional investigation into the insurrection—a move that drew the ire of Trump and his allies. In 2022, Cheney described Trump as a "coward" and declared, "In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who was a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump," as quoted in The Hill.
By 2024, Cheney had taken the extraordinary step of endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump in the presidential race. His statement was clear: "There has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump." Trump, for his part, dismissed Cheney as an "irrelevant RINO" and "King of Endless, Nonsensical Wars, wasting Lives and Trillions of Dollars," according to ABC News.
Despite the political drama, the mood inside the cathedral was one of solemn commemoration. Cheney’s family, in a statement released at the time of his death, said, "Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing. We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man."
Former President George W. Bush, who relied on Cheney’s counsel during the tumultuous years following the September 11 attacks, called his former vice president "a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held." The service program, as CNN noted, closed with a quote from naturalist John Muir: "The mountains are calling and I must go." It was a nod to Cheney’s Wyoming roots and lifelong love of the outdoors.
Cheney’s career stretched across four decades of public service. He served as a congressman from Wyoming, secretary of defense under President George H.W. Bush, and White House chief of staff before rising to the vice presidency. His tenure as vice president from 2001 to 2009 was marked by his central role in shaping the U.S. response to the September 11 attacks, launching the War on Terror, and overseeing the invasion of Iraq. These actions, while securing his reputation as a powerful policymaker, also left him deeply unpopular in many quarters and cemented his status as a polarizing figure, as noted by multiple outlets including CNN and ABC News.
Yet, tributes following his death reflected a broad recognition of his impact. Former President Joe Biden, who often clashed with Cheney on policy, nonetheless praised him as a public servant "guided by a strong set of conservative values." Biden added, "While we didn’t agree on much, he believed, as I do, that family is the beginning, middle and end." Former President Barack Obama offered condolences to the Cheney family, while ex-Florida Governor Jeb Bush called Cheney "a wonderful person and a great patriot." Rep. Mike Collins described him as "a giant in American politics" whose impact would endure, and Sen. Tom Cotton highlighted Cheney’s commitment to a strong military and American leadership.
As the service drew to a close, the gathering of political adversaries and allies alike was a poignant reminder of the enduring rituals of American democracy. The funeral of Dick Cheney was more than a farewell to a singular statesman—it was a rare moment of unity, reflection, and respect in a capital often torn by division.
In the end, the legacy of Dick Cheney—admired by some, reviled by others—remains woven into the fabric of American political life. His funeral, marked by both grandeur and gravity, served as a testament to the complexity of public service and the enduring power of national ceremony.
