President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were not invited to former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral, marking a notable departure from the customary presence of sitting presidents at funerals for past vice presidents. The invitation-only memorial service took place on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 11 a.m. ET at Washington National Cathedral in the nation’s capital.
Cheney, who served as vice president under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, died on November 3, 2025 at age 84. His family announced that he passed away “due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.” The former vice president had a lengthy history of cardiac issues and received a heart transplant in 2012.
The exclusion of Trump and Vance stands in stark contrast to the bipartisan gathering of more than 1,000 guests expected at the service. Former presidents George W. Bush and Joe Biden attended to pay their respects, alongside all four living former vice presidents: Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore, and Dan Quayle. The presence of such a wide array of political figures from both parties reflects an earlier era of Washington politics, when partisan divisions did not typically extend to memorial services for national leaders.
The decision to exclude Trump from the funeral comes as little surprise given the deteriorating relationship between the Cheney family and the current president in recent years. Dick Cheney withdrew his support for Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, marking a significant political shift for the lifelong conservative. Cheney spent his final years speaking out against Trump, particularly after his daughter, former Representative Liz Cheney, played a prominent role on the congressional committee investigating the events of January 6.
Both Dick and Liz Cheney endorsed Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign, further widening the rift with Trump. The president did not issue a public statement following Cheney’s death, another departure from typical presidential protocol when former vice presidents pass away.
Bush delivered a tribute at the funeral, describing his relationship with Cheney and sharing personal anecdotes about their time working together. Liz Cheney and several of Cheney’s grandchildren also spoke at the service. The memorial featured full military honors, befitting Cheney’s decades of public service.
Among the dignitaries gathered at the cathedral were Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and congressional leaders from both parties, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The presence of officials from both Republican and Democratic administrations underscored the broad respect Cheney commanded throughout his lengthy career in government.
Not all former presidents attended the service. Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama did not attend, and former President Bill Clinton declined due to what a spokesperson described as an unavoidable scheduling conflict. Clinton’s office indicated he was keeping the Cheney family in his prayers despite his absence.
Cheney’s career in public service spanned more than four decades. He was widely regarded as one of the most powerful and influential vice presidents in American history, though his role in shaping Iraq War policy left him deeply unpopular by the end of his tenure and created a polarizing legacy.
Cheney is survived by his wife, Lynne Cheney, and their daughters, former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, Mary Cheney, and seven grandchildren. Family members were with him when he passed away earlier this month. The funeral service represented both a farewell to a significant political figure and a reminder of the deep partisan divisions that have come to define contemporary American politics, particularly in the relationship between Trump and traditional Republican establishment figures like Cheney.
