Several prominent figures were notably absent from the VIP section at the funeral service of former Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday, November 20. The Trumps, Vances, and Obamas were among those who did not attend the event held at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Donald-Trump-Barack-Obama-072225-5684dd31e80049b08ada94991f9a1cec.jpg)
While the funeral saw the presence of politicians from both sides of the aisle, with roughly 1,000 guests in attendance, the only living presidents present were Joe Biden and George W. Bush. Bush was a distinguished speaker at the service, and Cheney’s daughter, Liz Cheney, gave an emotional eulogy.
Not in attendance were Barack and Michelle Obama. A source revealed that the Obamas were not expected to attend the funeral, as there is no concrete expectation for former presidents and first ladies to attend vice presidents’ funerals. Despite their political differences with Cheney, the Obamas shared their condolences on social media following his passing.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also did not attend the funeral. A scheduling conflict prevented Bill from attending, but he expressed his prayers for the Cheney family. Hillary’s spokesperson did not provide a reason for her absence.
President Donald Trump and Melania Trump were reportedly not invited to Cheney’s funeral due to tensions with the Cheney family. Trump publicly clashed with Liz Cheney, leading to her removal from a leadership role in the House GOP. Despite the strained relationship, Cheney’s father stood by her side, criticising Trump’s actions post-election.
Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance were also not in attendance at the service. JD Vance, acknowledging political disagreements, offered condolences to the Cheney family. The former VP’s family remembered Cheney as a devoted public servant and a loving patriarch in a tribute following his passing.
The absence of these political figures at Dick Cheney’s funeral reflects the complex relationships and tensions within the political landscape. Each individual’s decision not to attend speaks to their unique perspectives and interactions with the Cheney family, highlighting the intricacies of political dynamics even in moments of somber remembrance.