Funeral of Former U.S. Vice President Cheney Held... Trump and Vance Absent

"Division Between Trump and Traditional Republican Conservatism"

The funeral of the late former Vice President Dick Cheney, a symbol of the Republican "neoconservative" movement, was solemnly held on November 20 (local time) at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

According to the Associated Press and other sources, former President George W. Bush, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice Presidents Mike Pence, Al Gore, and Dan Quayle attended the funeral that day.

Funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Photo by AP Yonhap News

In his eulogy, former President Bush, who served in the administration with Cheney from 2001 to 2009, said, "His talent and restraint were greater than his ego," and described the late vice president as "solid, rare, and trustworthy."

Bush added, "When he spoke, with that even tone and calm, unexcitable manner, we all knew we were hearing the best judgment of a rational mind. No colleague, lawmaker, or foreign leader who met Dick Cheney ever doubted that he was a serious man," he said in tribute.

He further emphasized, "Above all, I wanted someone who would not be swayed by presidential ambitions and who was always capable of carrying out the duties of the presidency if needed," highlighting that although Cheney wielded considerable influence as vice president, he maintained a restrained attitude.

His eldest daughter, former Representative Liz Cheney, referenced her father's belief that "the nation comes before the party" in her eulogy, stating, "The bonds of party must always yield to the one bond we share as Americans." This was a pointed remark on the current state of the Republican Party, which is dominated by the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement.

President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance did not attend the funeral. U.S. online media Axios reported, citing sources, that President Trump was not invited to the ceremony.

That morning, Vice President Vance, when asked about former Vice President Cheney at another event, said, "Although we have political differences, he was a man devoted to the country," adding, "I sincerely offer my condolences to his grieving family." The Associated Press, citing sources, also reported that Vice President Vance was not invited to the funeral.

Since Cheney's passing on November 3, President Trump has not issued a separate statement or made any public comments regarding his death, maintaining silence. The White House flew the flag at half-staff, but this was in accordance with legal requirements.

This appears to be due to the strained relationship between the late vice president and President Trump. Although both Cheney and his eldest daughter, Liz Cheney, were Republicans, they strongly criticized President Trump and publicly opposed him after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot by Trump’s fervent supporters who denied the election results. In last year’s presidential election, Liz Cheney even expressed support for former Vice President Harris, the Democratic candidate, instead of President Trump.

The Washington Post commented on the absence of President Trump and Vice President Vance at the funeral, stating that it "vividly illustrates the deep divide between Trump’s MAGA movement and the traditional conservatism represented by the Republican Party during the Bush administration."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.