Dick Cheney’s funeral service on Thursday, Nov. 20, brought together a long list of influential figures from across American politics. The invite-only ceremony at Washington National Cathedral in D.C. drew roughly 1,000 guests, including leaders from both parties.
Only two living presidents — Joe Biden and George W. Bush — attended. Bush also delivered a formal tribute, while Cheney’s daughter, former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, gave one of the most emotional eulogies of the day.
Several well-known public figures, however, were not present. Here’s a look at the most notable absences and what’s known about each one.
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Barack and Michelle Obama
Barack and Michelle Obama were not expected to attend the funeral. There is no set requirement for former presidents and first ladies to attend a vice president’s service, though many choose to do so.
The Obamas succeeded the Bush-Cheney administration in 2009 and were not politically aligned with Cheney, even as relations between the Obama and Bush families warmed in later years. Still, Barack Obama publicly honored Cheney after his death, writing in a Facebook tribute:
“Although Dick Cheney and I represented very different political traditions, I respected his life-long devotion to public service and his deep love of country. Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to his family.”
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Michelle Obama has recently skipped several high-profile political events, including Trump’s second inauguration and Jimmy Carter’s funeral in January. She has spoken about prioritizing personal boundaries, referencing the “art of saying no” on her IMO podcast:
“It took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me, that was a hard thing for me to do.”
The Obamas previously also did not attend former Vice President Walter Mondale’s funeral in 2022.
Bill and Hillary Clinton
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were also absent.
According to CBS News, an aide said Bill Clinton had an unavoidable scheduling conflict but was keeping the Cheney family in his prayers. The outlet noted he was slated to appear in Little Rock alongside Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other former governors for the 75th anniversary of the governor’s mansion.
No public explanation was immediately offered for Hillary Clinton’s absence.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump did not attend, reportedly because they were not invited.
Trump’s relationship with the Cheney family has been openly hostile for years. He clashed repeatedly with Liz Cheney after she was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach him following the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Liz Cheney later lost her House GOP leadership position and her reelection bid, while her father strongly defended her stance and condemned Trump publicly.
“In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump,” Cheney said in a campaign ad supporting his daughter. He added that Trump tried to overturn the election “using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him.”
Trump has not publicly commented on Cheney’s death. On Nov. 4, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was aware of the former vice president’s passing and that flags had been lowered to half-staff in accordance with the law.
At the time of the service, Trump was scheduled for a routine intelligence briefing.
Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance were likewise not invited to the funeral, according to reports.
On the morning of the service, Vance addressed Cheney’s death while speaking at a Breitbart event:
“Obviously, there are some political disagreements there, but he was a guy who served his country; we certainly wish his family all the best in this moment of grieving.”
No additional official reason for the Vances’ absence has been publicly detailed.
Cheney’s family, in a statement released after his death on Nov. 3 at age 84, remembered him as a lifelong public servant who held roles including White House chief of staff, Wyoming congressman, secretary of defense, and vice president. They described him as “a great and good man” who taught his family to value “courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.”
