Former Vice President Dick Cheney died on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at age 84, surrounded by family members as he succumbed to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. The Wyoming Republican, who served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, became widely regarded as one of the most powerful vice presidents in American history, largely due to his instrumental role in shaping post-9/11 foreign policy and leading the push to invade Iraq in 2003.
Cheney’s death was confirmed by his family, who noted he had battled severe health challenges throughout his life. He survived five heart attacks beginning at age 37, underwent multiple cardiac surgeries, and received a heart transplant in 2012 at age 71. Despite these medical setbacks, advanced cardiac science helped him live decades beyond what many thought possible for someone with his cardiovascular history.
In a statement issued after Cheney’s death, Bush called his former vice president “the one I needed” and described him as “a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges.” The tribute highlighted the close working relationship between the two leaders during a tumultuous period in American history that included the September 11 terrorist attacks and subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Cheney is survived by his wife, Lynne, and two daughters, Mary and Liz. His daughter Liz served as a Republican representative from Wyoming and later became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, particularly regarding his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Funeral services have been scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Washington National Cathedral in the nation’s capital. The burial location had not been publicly disclosed as of Nov. 7. Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1941 and grew up in Wyoming, where he later retired after decades of public service.
The question of whether Cheney would lie in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda remained under review as of Nov. 7. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that Republican leadership staff was examining protocol regarding the possibility. State funerals and lying in state honors have been granted to presidents and other prominent political figures, though the decision requires coordination between congressional leadership and the executive branch.
Flags at the White House were lowered following Cheney’s death, but President Trump had not issued a national proclamation or made any public statement about the former vice president as of Nov. 10. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president was aware of Cheney’s passing and noted that flags had been lowered “in accordance with statutory law.” Under federal protocol, flags should remain at half-staff from the date of a former vice president’s death until the day of burial.
The silence from Trump stood in stark contrast to typical presidential responses to the death of former high-ranking officials. The lack of a public statement appeared to reflect the deep political rift that developed between Trump and the Cheney family in recent years. Dick Cheney later became a vocal critic of Trump, particularly after the 2020 election.
In a 2022 campaign advertisement supporting his daughter Liz’s reelection bid, Cheney stated there had “never been an individual who was a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.” The Cheney family’s opposition intensified after Trump refused to accept the 2020 election results and his daughter’s subsequent role on the House committee investigating the Capitol attack. In 2024, Cheney endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump in the presidential election.
Trump responded to the Cheneys’ opposition during his 2024 campaign, calling Dick Cheney “the king of endless, nonsensical wars, wasting lives and trillions of dollars.” He also made controversial remarks about Liz Cheney, suggesting she should be put “with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her” to see how she would feel about military conflicts.
Cheney’s career in government spanned multiple administrations and roles. Before serving as vice president, he was Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, White House chief of staff, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Joel Goldstein, author of “The Modern American Vice Presidency,” noted that under Cheney’s tenure, there existed questions about whether “the vice president might really have been running things,” a testament to his unprecedented influence in the role.
His legacy remains divisive, with supporters crediting him for his role in national security decisions following the September 11 attacks, while critics point to the Iraq War and its aftermath as evidence of failed foreign policy. The war in Iraq, which Cheney championed based on claims about weapons of mass destruction that proved unfounded, came to symbolize what many viewed as the dangers of aggressive interventionist policies.
Comedian Bill Maher drew groans from his audience on Nov. 8 when he made jokes about Cheney’s death during his HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher.” After referencing New York mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, Maher quipped about people not knowing Cheney had been alive, drawing awkward silence before continuing with additional remarks about the former vice president’s extensive cardiac history.