Former Vice President Dick Cheney was laid to rest Thursday at Washington National Cathedral, but President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance weren’t in attendance. According to CNN, neither received an invitation to the invite-only funeral, which drew more than 1,000 guests, including former presidents and senior government officials.
The service began at 11 a.m. ET at the National Cathedral and featured full military honors. Speakers included Bush, Cheney’s daughter, Rep. Liz Cheney, and some of his grandchildren.
Honorary pallbearers included members of Cheney’s Secret Service detail, his former chiefs of staff and photographer David Hume Kennerly.
Cheney died earlier this month at the age of 84.
Who is attending
Former presidents George W. Bush and Joe Biden attended the funeral, along with former vice presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore and Dan Quayle.
CNN reports that numerous Supreme Court justices also attended. These include Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Elena Kagan.
Other attendees include Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, past and present Cabinet members, and congressional leaders from both parties.
The Trump omission
The Trump omission may not come as a surprise to some. Cheney spent his later years sharply criticizing Trump, calling him a “coward” and “the greatest threat to the republic.”
Trump has not issued a public statement about Cheney’s death. However, the White House said he was “aware” and ordered flags lowered to half-staff.
Cheney’s legacy
One of the most consequential vice presidents in modern history, Cheney served two terms alongside Republican President George W. Bush and was a driving force behind the post-9/11 “war on terror” and the Iraq invasion.
He previously served as defense secretary under President George H.W. Bush, as White House chief of staff for President Gerald Ford, and as a congressman from Wyoming.
Cheney battled heart disease for decades and received a heart transplant in 2012, later calling it “the gift of life itself.”
