Trump Snubbed at Cheney’s Funeral
Reports indicate that former President Donald Trump did not attend the funeral of Dick Cheney, the former Vice President, held in Washington, D.C., on a Thursday. Axios noted the absence of Trump, as did CNN, adding that Vice President J.D. Vance also wasn’t invited.
As shared by Breitbart News, Cheney passed away on November 3 at the age of 84 due to complications related to pneumonia and cardiovascular issues.
Typically, it’s expected that sitting presidents show up for the funerals of previous officeholders. However, following the January 6 Capitol riot, Cheney’s relationship with former President George W. Bush soured significantly. He even publicly criticized GOP leadership, including his daughter Liz Cheney and then-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), in a campaign advertisement from 2022, according to Axios.
In other developments, CNN reported that Vance is among the notable figures not receiving invites to the exclusive memorial service, expected to host around 1,000 guests at the National Cathedral.
The guest list reportedly includes not just former President Bush and President Joe Biden, but also former Vice Presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore, and Dan Quayle. Numerous Supreme Court justices, such as Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Elena Kagan, are anticipated to attend as well. Additionally, both current and former Cabinet members from various administrations are expected, along with congressional leaders across party lines.
Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are also lined up to attend.
Former President Bush expressed admiration for Cheney, describing him as a “calm and steady presence” and highlighting him as one of the “finest public servants” of his generation, per reports from Breitbart News.
Throughout George W. Bush’s presidency, the War on Terror defined Cheney’s career, leading to a polarized view of him as a warmonger among some groups. Over time, Cheney’s popularity within conservative circles dwindled as many Republicans grew skeptical of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While he appeared to be aware of this shift, it seemed to bother him quite a bit. The tension between Cheney and the Trump-led GOP was mutual.
The Cheney family’s feelings toward the current Republican leadership highlight a noticeable divide between the traditional GOP and the party transformed under the influence of Trump’s MAGA movement.
Additionally, Breitbart reported that shortly after his 2024 re-election, Trump criticized both Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party’s decision to endorse Cheney.
“Democrats made a huge mistake by including crazy Liz Cheney and her father Dick in their presidential campaign. This upset Republicans and left Democrats bewildered,” Trump remarked in a Truth Social post. “Bringing ‘losers’ into elections is always a bad idea. It’s a political movement!”
