The funeral for former Vice President Dick Cheney was a no-go zone for President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
A White House official told CBS News that the president was not invited to the service, although other Washington, D.C., powerhouses were in attendance.
Vance was also on the no-invite list for the Cheney service today at Washington National Cathedral. The five living former vice presidents were invited, however.
Trump has been uncharacteristically mum about Cheney’s death, including not issuing a statement about the passing, the Daily Mail reported.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said only that the White House would follow the law by having flags at half-staff.
Cheney endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump in last year’s presidential race, saying, “There has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.”
Trump has been critical of Cheney and of Cheney’s onetime boss, former President George W. Bush, slamming them for getting the U.S. involved in “forever wars” in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Vance last week said that Cheney had not done a very good job running the country during his White House tenure.
In a more formal statement, however, Vance said, “My condolences go to Dick Cheney and his family. Obviously, there’s 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.”
Cheney’s daughter, former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, was a staunch critic of Trump.
Bush will speak at Cheney’s funeral as will former President Joe Biden.
Including Biden, who served as both president and vice president during his career in public service, the other living vice presidents in attendance at the funeral will be Harris, Mike Pence, Dan Quayle and Al Gore.
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