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Diginitaries gather for former vice-president Cheney's funeral
Several US dignitaries, including former presidents Joe Biden and George W Bush, are attending the funeral of Dick Cheney at the Cathedral in Washington DC today.
The former vice-president died earlier this month at the age of 84. His daughter, former congresswoman Liz Cheney, will speak at today’s service. As we noted earlier, Donald Trump and JD Vance were reportedly not invited to the funeral. However, all former living vice-presidents will be in attendance. This includes Mike Pence, who served as Trump’s right hand during his first administration.
My colleague, David Smith, will be at the cathedral and providing updates.
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Leavitt says Trump does not want Democratic lawmakers executed, following video that reminds service members to refuse illegal orders
Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Donald Trump does not want to see Democratic members of Congress executed. This, after he fired off several posts on Truth Social accusing six lawmakers – who posted a video telling members of the military that they are able to “refuse illegal orders”– of sedition, and saying that their behavior is “punishable by DEATH!”.
Notably, Trump also shared posts that called for the Democrats (all of whom are veterans or worked in the intelligence community) to be removed from office, arrested, or killed. One user, who the president reposted, wrote: “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!
Today, Leavitt said that lawmakers in the video “conspired” to encourage active duty service members to “defy the president’s lawful orders”.
“If they hear this radical message from sitting members of Congress,” the press secretary added, “that could inspire chaos, and that could incite violence, and it could certainly disrupt the chain of command.”
Leavitt went on to suggest that the Democrats’ actions were a double standard. “If this were Republican members of Congress … this entire room would be up in arms,” she said. Throughout the briefing, the press secretary offered no explanation for the threats of violence levied by the president.
White House says Mamdani meeting is a testament that Trump is 'willing to meet with anyone'
Karoline Leavitt said that she “didn’t want to get ahead” of the president as he prepares for a meeting with New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
“I also think it speaks to the fact that president Trump is willing to meet with anyone and talk to anyone and to try to do what’s right on behalf of the American people,” Leavitt said, while continuing to refer to Mamdani as a communist.
In response to a question from a reporter, McMahon said that she is in touch with “probably a dozen members of Congress” in an attempt to codify her changes to the Department of Education.
Standing beside Leavitt today is the education secretary, Linda McMahon. Earlier this week, the Department of Education (ED) announced a move to outsource several of its functions to other agencies. It’s part of the administration’s plan to dismantle the ED entirely.
“The Democrats’ government shutdown made it painfully obvious that American families do not need the Department of Education,” Leavitt noted in the briefing room.
McMahon explained that the six interagency agreements are an attempt to cut out “bureaucratic bloat” and “shift educational authority from Washington DC, to your state education agency, your local superintendent, your local school board entities that are accountable to you.”
Karoline Leavitt kicks off her press briefing today, touting the latest (delayed) jobs report. “In particular, construction jobs surged by 19,000 in September, the largest monthly gain in a year,” Leavitt said. “Nearly all of this solid monthly job growth came from the private sector and went to Americans rather than foreign born workers.”
We’re due to hear from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt momentarily. We’ll bring you the latest lines from the briefing here.
In her eulogy, which appeared to carry subtle digs at Donald Trump – who was reportedly not invited to Dick Cheney’s funeral, Liz Cheney spoke of her father’s devotion to the US, which she called “deep and substantive.”
“He spent his life studying the history of our great republic. He knew you couldn’t truly appreciate what it means to live in freedom if you didn’t understand the sacrifices of the generations who came before, and he made sure that his children and grandchildren understood this too,” she said.
Cheney, who has previously condemened Trump over his involvement in the January 6 riots across Capitol Hill and has called him a “fascist,” went on to talk about memories from her father as he flew over Washington DC after becoming secretary of defense in 1989.
“He described departing from the Pentagon. ‘As my helicopter lifted off the Pentagon helipad, I could look across the river to the great monuments of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, to the White House and the Capitol building where all the great decisions that have shaped 200 years of American history were made. And I could look directly out on Arlington national cemetery and remember what a terrible price 1000s of brave Americans have paid so that all of us could enjoy the blessings of liberty,’” Cheney said.
Cheney , a vocal critic of Trump’s administrations, served as the Republican vice chair of the House January 6 special committee despite political peril which saw her ostracized from the Republican party. She has also said that Trump’s “election fraud claims were false,” adding: “No president can defy the rule of law and act this way in a constitutional republic, period – comments that stand in stark contrast to her eulogy that hailed father’s public service towards the US.
Liz Cheney: 'Defense of constitution and defense of your political party was no choice at all'
Dick Cheney’s daughter, Liz Cheney, just delivered her eulogy.
“He wouldn’t force his opinion on you or demand you do things his way. He might not share his opinion at all if he didn’t ask. In fact, he was known to go long stretches of time without saying a single word,” said Liz Cheney.
“But if you watched closely, if you asked questions, you listened when he did speak, you had the experience of seeing the world opening up in front of you, of looking at things in new ways, of benefiting from his clarity of thought, his ability to crystallize what was important and what wasn’t,” she continued.
Liz Cheney went on to say: “Though he was inspired to service by president [John F] Kennedy, Dick Cheney became a Republican, but he knew that bonds of party must always yield to the single bond we share as Americans. For him, a choice between defense of the Constitution and defense of your political party was no choice at all.”
One of Cheney’s seven grandchildren, Elizabeth Perry, just noted that the former vice-president “was tough with a kind heart”.
“Dick Cheney wasn’t just my grandpa. He was my best friend, my hero, my role model, and the most influential person in my life,” said Perry, who is the daughter of former congresswoman Liz Cheney.
Vance offers condolences to Cheney while speaking at Breitbart event
JD Vance, who is not attending Dick Cheney’s funeral today, offered his condolences to the former vice-president’s family.
“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,” Vance said, while speaking at an event hosted by the far-right news outlet, Breitbart.
Bush recalls that Cheney offered to step aside as vice-president in 2004, in case the 43rd president wanted to replace him.
“I thought about it for a while,” Bush said today. “But after four years of seeing how he treated people, how he carried responsibility, how he handled pressure and took the hits, I arrived back at the conclusion that they do not come any better than Dick Cheney.”
Bush noted that “in a profession that attracts talkers” Cheney was “a thinker and a listener”.
George W Bush remembers his vice-president's 'busy and purposeful' life
Speaking now, former president George W Bush remembers Dick Cheney – who served as his vice-president for his entire administration – as a “a stoical man”.
“As I quickly discovered in 2000, when you choose one Cheney, you get four,” Bush quipped of the close relationship his vice-president had with his wife, Lynne, and their two daughters, Liz and Mary. “His busy and purposeful life was an adventure they experienced together. In a family so close you dread the day when the circle is broken.”
Reiner added that Cheney showed “a genuine fortitude” in the face of “true mortal terror” that he faced while suffering with heart disease for most of his adult life.
We’re now hearing from Dr Jonathan Reiner, Dick Cheney’s cardiologist.
“I want to acknowledge the many doctors and nurses here with us today who took such magnificent care of the vice-president over a span of 27 years,” Reiner said. A reminder, that Cheney suffered from several heart attacks during his life, and ultimately died from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
Cheney’s casket is now being placed in front of the altar, and his family are taking their seats.
While there are several high-profile political figures at Dick Cheney’s funeral today, notably absent are Bill and Hillary Clinton and Barack and Michelle Obama.
A spokesperson for Bill Clinton said that former president had an unavoidable scheduling conflict which prevented him from attending today’s service.
Covered in the American flag, Cheney’s casket was just carried into the Cathedral by the military honor guard. Walking behind were members of his family, including his widow Lynne and elder daughter Liz Cheney.
In the first row at Dick Cheney’s funeral, former vice-president Kamala Harris and her predecessor, Mike Pence, sit next to each other.
We’re expecting former president George W Bush, who Cheney served as vice-president, to deliver a speech today.
