The passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney has sparked discussions about his complex legacy, especially regarding how he and his family became estranged from the modern Republican Party led by Trump.
Cheney held a significant role within Washington for decades, serving in various high-ranking positions, including member of Congress, Chief of Staff, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President. Instead of enjoying a revered elder state, his name turned into a contentious topic within a Trump-dominated party.
Trump’s 2016 campaign marked a departure from the established foreign policies that Cheney had a hand in shaping over many years. The rift between Cheney and Trump grew more evident following the 2020 election when Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) accused Trump of threatening democracy by attempting to reverse his election defeat.
In one of his final public actions, Cheney endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race.
“It wasn’t just personal; it was a clash of ideologies,” noted Matt Dallek, a political professor at George Washington University. “Cheney’s foreign policy views directly opposed Trump’s.”
Dallek mentioned that the schism between Cheney’s hawkish approach and Trump’s anti-intervention stance is likely to persist if Trump is re-elected.
“Then there were the personal attacks on Liz Cheney, the damage to her political career by Trump and his supporters, and January 6,” he added. “The Cheney family’s opposition to Trump’s actions around that time was significant.”
While the White House ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, it refrained from making a formal statement about Cheney’s death. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt remarked that Trump was aware of Cheney’s passing but did not comment on it, given he had no public engagements that day.
Cheney was a major player in Washington for many years, eventually becoming a polarizing figure. He was Secretary of Defense during the Gulf War under George H.W. Bush and was instrumental in the lead-up to the Iraq War under George W. Bush, basing his arguments on false claims about weapons of mass destruction.
Cheney championed expansive executive powers, asserting they were crucial for national security. This view has found echoes in Trump’s term, particularly regarding military actions against suspected drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean.
When he left office, Cheney was quite unpopular, which inadvertently helped shape Trump’s appeal to the electorate in 2016; a Pew Research Center poll indicated Cheney’s approval rating at just 31 percent upon his departure.
Trump capitalized on the dissatisfaction with the foreign policy establishment that Cheney embodied during his campaign. While Trump promised to end longstanding military engagements, it was actually the Biden administration that formally wound down the war in Afghanistan.
Initially, Cheney supported Trump in 2016, and Liz Cheney was considered an ally during his first term. However, tensions escalated in 2021.
Liz Cheney was among the few Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. She went on to join a House committee investigating that attack, further aggravating Trump and his allies.
In a 2022 campaign advertisement for his daughter, Cheney labeled Trump as a “coward” for making false claims regarding the 2020 election.
By 2024, Cheney publicly endorsed Harris and denounced Trump as a grave threat to the nation.
“In the history of our nation, no one has posed a greater threat than Donald Trump,” Cheney stated then. “He attempted to use lies and violence to maintain power after being rejected by voters. As citizens, we have an obligation to prioritize our country and uphold the Constitution, irrespective of our party ties.”
Harris paid tribute to Cheney on Tuesday, recognizing him as a dedicated individual who devoted much of his life to his country.
Even some of Trump’s close allies within the Republican party honored Cheney, commending his extensive public service.
“Regardless of any political disagreements, we owe it to him to recognize the sacrifices he made for our country,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) remarked during a press conference.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) characterized Cheney as “one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met.” He praised Cheney’s assertive stance on foreign policy and his ability to navigate critiques from all sides of the political landscape. “His confidence in his beliefs was unmatched. Even when it conflicted with those from both parties, he stood firm,” Graham concluded.
