Trump silent on death of former US vice-president Cheney whose brand of politics clashed with his

WASHINGTON – The White House lowered flags to half-staff on Nov 4 following

the death of former US vice-president Dick Cheney

, while US President Donald Trump and his administration remained silent about the Republican politician’s death.

As at the afternoon of Nov 4, the White House had not issued a statement marking Mr Cheney’s death, nor had Mr Trump weighed in on social media.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered only a brief acknowledgement of Mr Cheney’s death at age 84 on Nov 3 when prompted by a reporter during a press briefing.

“I know the President is aware of the former vice-president’s passing. And as you saw, flags have been lowered to half-staff in accordance with statutory law,” Ms Leavitt said on Nov 4.

Mr Cheney, who served two terms as US vice-president under then US president George W. Bush, had long represented a brand of Republican politics that clashed sharply with Mr Trump’s populist approach.

The divide deepened after Mr Cheney and his daughter, former US Representative Liz Cheney, became fierce critics of Mr Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Ms Cheney, who served as vice-chairwoman of the House committee investigating the Jan 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, said Mr Trump had “summoned a violent mob” and “caused a constitutional crisis”.

Her father publicly supported her stance, saying in a 2022 campaign ad that “there has never been an individual who was a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump”.

Mr Trump frequently attacked both Cheneys during his 2024 presidential campaign. He accused the former US vice-president of leading the US into “endless wars” and mocked his daughter’s defeat in Wyoming’s Republican primary.

At an Oct 31, 2024, campaign event with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Mr Trump said he was “never a fan of Cheney” but was surprised the former US vice-president backed his daughter over him. REUTERS