US Political Leaders React to Former Vice President Dick Cheney's Passing

The death of the 46th vice president of the United States at 84 prompted tributes from across the political spectrum, though some notable figures have yet to speak.

Dick Cheney rose to national prominence as vice president under President George W. Bush, becoming known for expanding the power of the office and leaving a lasting mark on U.S. policy. Following his death on November 3, 2025, his family and former colleagues paid tribute to his legacy.

According to CNN, Cheney died from complications related to pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, and he passed away surrounded by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, and their daughters, Liz and Mary.

For his loved ones, Cheney was more than just a devoted husband. "Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing," the family said.

Tributes from Former Leaders and the Bush Center

With Cheney's death, key political figures have expressed their tributes on X. Former President Joe Biden responded to the news by acknowledging Cheney's long career in government and public service.

While noting their political differences, Biden praised Cheney's commitment to conservative values and his belief in the importance of family. He extended condolences to Cheney's wife, their daughters, and grandchildren.

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris, who served as vice president under Biden's administration, also expressed condolences, describing Cheney as a dedicated public servant who held leadership roles across several administrations.

She said his passing marked the loss of someone deeply committed to serving the country and offered her thoughts to the Cheney family.

Joining the chorus of tributes, former President Bill Clinton reflected on Cheney's devotion to service, describing him as a man driven by a deep belief in serving the country, even during periods of sharp political disagreement.

A more personal remembrance came from the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which released a detailed statement honoring Cheney's legacy. The organization described his death as a loss for the nation, remembering him as a principled leader who carried out every role with intelligence and integrity.

The statement recalled how, in 2000, Bush initially asked Cheney to help select a running mate — only to choose him instead, drawn to his experience, judgment, and loyalty.

The center also praised Cheney's steady presence during national crises and his willingness to provide honest, direct advice in difficult moments. His focus on American freedom and security, it said, never wavered. The statement described him as one of the most capable public servants of his generation.

Noticeable Silence from Washington's Top Figures

Not all high-ranking figures responded publicly. As of Tuesday, President Donald Trump had not commented on Cheney’s death. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed he had been informed.

"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," Leavitt told reporters.

Vice President J.D. Vance had also remained silent. On social media, his personal X account featured campaign-related messages, while his official page highlighted recent public appearances — including a Turning Point USA event at a university, a visit to a U.S.–Israel civil-military coordination center, and a Halloween celebration.

While statements from political figures varied, Cheney's legacy was shaped by more than politics. He faced a series of personal and professional trials that helped define a life reaching far beyond Washington.

Stricken, Scarred, and Still Standing: The Vice President Who Refused to Fall

Over the years, Cheney has danced far too often with death. From battling a lifetime of heart attacks to surviving a brazen Taliban suicide bombing, and even accidentally shooting a man in the face, Cheney's life has read like a political thriller with the body count to match.

In March 2012, at the age of 71, Cheney's office revealed he had undergone heart transplant surgery. The dramatic operation took place at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia. His staff disclosed that Cheney had been waiting — silently and patiently — on the transplant list for more than 20 months.

"Although the former vice president and his family do not know the identity of the donor," the office added, "they will be forever grateful for this lifesaving gift." The politician's heart has long been his greatest adversary.

The former vice president has suffered at least five heart attacks since 1978, the first at just 37 years old. In June 2010, just two years before his transplant, Cheney was rushed to George Washington University Hospital due to complications from coronary artery disease.

To keep him alive, doctors implanted a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), a machine that helped his failing heart continue pumping blood. Back in June 2001, irregular rhythms forced doctors to install a pacemaker — an ominous sign that Cheney's health had been declining behind closed doors for years.

'We Knew Cheney Would Be There:' Taliban Bomber Strikes as the Vice President Sleeps

But illness wasn't the only predator stalking the former vice president. In a terrifying brush with terror and bloodshed, Cheney found himself squarely in the crosshairs of a suicide bomber. The date was February 2007, and the place was Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, where Cheney was making a surprise overnight visit.

The attacker struck at the main gate during the politician's stay, killing as many as 23 people and injuring 20. The Taliban chillingly claimed responsibility, declaring Cheney was their target. He emerged unharmed — but others weren't so lucky.

Despite the chaos, he carried on, later traveling to Kabul to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The Afghan government reported 23 fatalities, but the US military claimed only nine deaths. The confusion surrounding the final count was never fully clarified, a shadow hanging over the grim morning.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) later confirmed that among the dead were a US soldier, an American contractor, and a South Korean soldier.

Cheney explained he had remained at the base due to poor weather. "At 10 a.m. I heard a loud boom," he recounted. Secret Service agents rushed him to a bomb shelter. "As the situation settled down... I went back to my room until it was time to leave."

When pressed by reporters, he made it clear — canceling his trip was never an option. Outside the base, the carnage was undeniable. At least 12 bodies in black bags and wooden coffins were seen being moved into a nearby market, where mourning locals gathered.

Despite Major William Mitchell's statement that the explosion did not pose a direct threat — adding, "He wasn't near the site of the explosion" — the Taliban insisted otherwise. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi was chillingly specific, "We knew that Dick Cheney would be staying inside the base," he told the press by phone.

"The attacker was trying to reach Cheney." He identified the bomber as Mullah Abdul Rahim. The blast occurred near the first of at least three fortified checkpoints surrounding Bagram Air Base, which housed over 5,000 US troops and 4,000 coalition personnel and contractors.

Lieutenant Colonel James Bonner, Bagram's operations commander, confirmed that the attacker never breached the base. "When he realized he would not be able to get onto the base, he attacked the local population," Bonner said bluntly.

Cheney later mused that the assault was part of the Taliban's broader agenda. "Striking at Bagram with a suicide bomber I suppose is one way to do that [sic]," he said.

The Shot Heard Around the World: Cheney Shoots Hunting Buddy

But Cheney hasn't just faced danger — he's accidentally inflicted it, too. In a bizarre twist of fate, he was the one holding the gun during an incident that would haunt both men for years. In February 2006, during a quail hunting trip in South Texas, Cheney accidentally shot fellow hunter Harry Whittington in the face.

The aftermath was ghastly. Five years later, in 2010, Whittington still had a tremble in his voice — a "warble," he called it, perhaps unknowingly invoking the bird that caused the carnage.

The shooting left Whittington permanently altered. A pellet pierced his larynx, changing his voice forever. Around 30 metal fragments remained embedded in his face, neck, torso, and near his heart.

He pointed to his eye socket, his forehead, his hand — where visible lumps from birdshot still surfaced. Occasionally, strangers would approach, stunned by the damage. For months, lead shrapnel worked its way through his skin.

Still, many fragments were too deep to remove. He joked darkly that he could still pass through a metal detector unnoticed. The accidental blast happened in a split second. Cheney had turned to fire at a winging quail, unaware Whittington had stepped into the line of fire.

Struck in the face, neck, and upper body, Whittington recalled only the moment of impact. "All I remember was the smell of burning powder," he said. "And then I passed out."

Paramedics first rushed him to a hospital in Kingsville, then airlifted him to Corpus Christi. But in a move that sparked intense suspicion, the shooting wasn't made public until the next day.

Katharine Armstrong, the ranch owner's daughter, notified a local reporter and claimed Whittington had stepped into the line of fire. White House spokesman Scott McClellan echoed that sentiment. Cheney, meanwhile, remained silent for four days.

He only addressed the incident in an interview, where he accepted responsibility but never apologized, saying, "Ultimately, I am the guy who pulled the trigger." As Whittington recovered in the hospital, reporters swarmed the building.

One disguised themselves as medical staff to snap a photo. Security guards were posted outside his room. Upon his release, it was Whittington — not Cheney — who issued an apology. "My family and I are deeply sorry for all that Vice President Cheney and his family have had to go through this past week," he said.

Back home in Austin, the ordeal refused to end. Reporters stalked his house, phoned incessantly, and even sent gifts—flowers, fruit baskets — desperate for an exclusive. TV networks offered to fly him to New York, but Whittington declined.

"That was the last thing I wanted to do," he said. Still, the media frenzy raged on. Late-night comedians mocked the shooting, and Cheney himself turned the incident into a national punchline. Eventually, the world lost interest. And to Whittington's quiet, eternal relief, the spotlight moved on.

A Life Devoted to Power and Patriotism

Few men have held as much sway behind the curtain of American power as Cheney. Serving as White House Chief of Staff, Wyoming congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President, Cheney shaped policy from the shadows and frontlines alike.

Described by his family as a great and good man who instilled values of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing, he was not just a political force, but a pillar of strength within his home.

His most controversial chapters came during his tenure, including the time he served as the architect of the Gulf War as George H.W. Bush's Secretary of defence. Ten years later, he was George W. Bush's vice president.

Under George Jr., he served as the vice president, where he was a key architect of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. That decision, praised and reviled in equal measure, would define global geopolitics for a generation.

Yet despite the storm clouds of history, his family remains resolute, saying they are deeply grateful for all he did for the country and feel blessed to have loved — and been loved by — the noble giant of a man.