Donald Trump and JD Vance were not invited to former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral, highlighting deep political divisions. Learn why the Cheneys distanced themselves, who attended the service, and how Cheney’s legacy shaped decades of U.S. politics.
Donald Trump and JD Vance Not Invited to Dick Cheney’s Funeral as Political Divides Resurface
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were noticeably absent from the funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney, an omission that, according to a White House official, was no accident. Cheney, one of the most influential and polarizing figures in modern American politics, died earlier this month at the age of 84. His funeral service, held Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral, became a gathering of political heavyweights, past and present—just not from Trump’s orbit.
Cheney served as vice president under George W. Bush, playing a decisive and controversial role in shaping post-9/11 U.S. policy. But in his later years, he became a vocal critic of Donald Trump, a rift that deepened during the administration of President Biden and reached its peak during Trump’s second campaign.
A Funeral for Old-Guard Republicans
The service at the National Cathedral resembled a reunion of traditional Republican leadership. Former President George W. Bush delivered a heartfelt eulogy, reflecting on Cheney’s decades of public service—from his days in the Nixon and Ford administrations to his leadership during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The guest list, however, underscored the current divisions within the Republican Party.
In the front pew sat a bipartisan group of political leaders:
- President Joe Biden
- Vice President Kamala Harris
- Former Vice Presidents Mike Pence, Al Gore, and Dan Quayle
- Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
- Chief Justice John Roberts
The scene symbolized a moment of unity—but also a pointed exclusion. Notably missing were Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, though Clinton’s team stated he had a scheduling conflict. But the most striking omissions were Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Why Trump Wasn’t Invited
For those who have followed the Cheney–Trump feud, the lack of an invitation came as no surprise. The animosity between the two political families became public and deeply entrenched during Trump’s presidency and its aftermath.
Central to the conflict was Liz Cheney, Dick Cheney’s daughter and former Wyoming congresswoman. As vice chair of the House January 6 Committee, she became one of the most prominent Republican critics of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Liz Cheney’s willingness to break with GOP leadership and challenge Trump directly made her a hero to some—and a political enemy to others.
Trump targeted her repeatedly, ultimately endorsing her primary challenger in the 2022 midterms. She lost her seat, and Trump celebrated her defeat as a victory for his wing of the party.
The estrangement between the Cheneys and Trump grew even wider in 2024, when both Dick and Liz Cheney endorsed Kamala Harris in the presidential election—an extraordinary break from Republican tradition. Though Harris ultimately lost to Trump, the endorsement underscored just how far the two political dynasties had drifted apart.
Given this history, Trump’s exclusion from Dick Cheney’s funeral was seen by many as a final message from the Cheney family: their political values and their legacy remain firmly at odds with Trump’s.
Unexpected Faces in the Crowd
Another surprising moment came with the appearance of MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, a liberal commentator who had long criticized Cheney’s policies during the Bush administration. Her presence highlighted how far political alliances have shifted. Once considered an arch-villain by the American left for his promotion of the Iraq War and expansion of secret surveillance, Cheney became—at least symbolically—an ally in the fight to preserve democratic norms under Trump.
Her attendance also signaled a recognition of Cheney’s later willingness to break with the Republican Party in defense of constitutional principles, particularly after Jan. 6.
A Legacy Both Admired and Controversial
Dick Cheney’s career spanned half a century, beginning with his work in the Nixon administration at age 28. He later became the youngest White House chief of staff under President Gerald Ford, served a decade in Congress where he rose to House minority whip, and then joined the George H.W. Bush administration as Secretary of Defense, overseeing U.S. operations during the Gulf War.
But it was his tenure as vice president under George W. Bush that cemented his legacy—and controversy. Cheney was a driving force behind:
- The U.S. response to 9/11
- The invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan
- The expansion of government surveillance programs
- The use of enhanced interrogation techniques
Often described as one of the most powerful vice presidents in American history, Cheney was both feared and respected. Critics compared him to “Darth Vader,” a label Cheney once joked he embraced.
How His Funeral Reflected the Current Political Divide
Cheney’s funeral became more than a memorial—it became a reflection of the shifting tides within American conservatism. As establishment Republicans and prominent Democrats filled the cathedral, the absence of Trump and Vance highlighted a deep generational and ideological divide in the GOP.
Though once a central figure in Republican politics, Cheney spent his final years increasingly estranged from the party he helped shape. In that sense, the guest list at his funeral mirrored the story of his political life: complex, consequential, and impossible to separate from the country’s broader political transformation.
As America continues navigating its polarized landscape, Cheney’s passing marks not just the end of a life, but the fading of a political era he helped define.
