Former U.S. vice president Dick Cheney, architect of George W Bush’s “War on Terror,” has died at the age of 84.
Cheney served at Bush’s side for two terms between 2001 and 2009 and is known for expanding the powers of his role far beyond anything experienced by his 45 predecessors and for leading the U.S. into Iraq on what proved to be faulty intelligence concerning dictator Saddam Hussein’s nuclear capabilities in the aftermath of 9/11.
Cheney’s family called him a “noble giant of a man” and revealed he died due to “complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.”
Bush also called Cheney’s death “a loss to the nation” in a statement on Tuesday morning.
“Laura and I will remember Dick Cheney for the decent, honorable man that he was,” the former president said.
After leaving office, Cheney found himself cut adrift from the Republican Party over his rejection of President Donald Trump, whom he called a “coward” and the “greatest ever threat to our Republic.” Cheney also voted for Kamala Harris in last year’s election, according to his daughter, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney.
Trump, who called Cheney an “irrelevant RINO” following his Harris endorsement, has yet to issue a statement on Cheney’s death.
Key Points
- Dick Cheney, George W Bush’s vice president, dead at 84
- Obituary: The man who harnessed unprecedented power in Bush’s White House
- 'A real Republican, to the last': Tributes begin to roll in for late veep
- Cheney had no regrets over Iraq: 'I would do it again in a minute'
- Ex-veep appeared in daughter’s campaign ad to denounce Trump
Bill Clinton says he 'respected' Dick Cheney despite disagreements
18:29 , Katie HawkinsonFormer President Bill Clinton said he “respected” former Vice President Dick Cheney despite their disagreements.
“Throughout his long career in public service, Dick Cheney was guided by a deep belief that he was doing what was right for America,” Clinton, a Democrat, wrote on X. “Though we often disagreed, I always respected his dedication to our country and his unwavering sense of duty. My thoughts are with Lynne and the Cheney family.”
Watch: House Speaker Mike Johnson comments on Dick Cheney's death
18:16 , Katie HawkinsonWyoming senator honors Cheney
18:04 , Katie HawkinsonSenator John Barrasso, a Republican representing Wyoming, said his state is mourning Dick Cheney.
Cheney was from Wyoming.
“From high school football star to White House Chief of Staff, Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President, Dick’s career has few peers in American life,” Barrasso wrote. “His unflinching leadership shaped many of the biggest moments in domestic and U.S. foreign policy for decades.”
“Dick will be remembered as a towering figure who helped guide the course of history in Wyoming, the United States, and around the world,” he added. “My prayers are with Lynne, with Liz and Mary, and his grandchildren as they celebrate an incredible man.”
White House briefing to begin shortly
17:55 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump has yet to comment on Vice President Dick Cheney’s death.
The White House lowered flags to half-mast this morning following the announcement. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is also set to give a briefing at 1 p.m.
IN FOCUS: That time Dick Cheney shot his friend in the face and the Texas man apologized for getting shot says it all about Bush VP
17:45 , John BowdenAccidents happen, but rarely do they end with a victim apologizing to the person who, even unwittingly, committed the offending act.
But such was the case in 2006, when Dick Cheney, the sitting vice president of the United States, accompanied by members of the Secret Service, accidentally fired a shotgun blast into the face and torso of an acquaintance: Harry Whittington, then a prominent attorney in Austin, Texas, who was quail hunting with the veep.
What followed was what passed for a weird news cycle in the aughts — a far cry from any scandal of the Trump era, but a punctuated moment of George W. Bush’s presidency.
Keep reading:
What Cheney’s shooting incident revealed about George W. Bush veep
Dick Cheney: The most influential vice president in modern American history
17:30 , Rupert Cornwell, Sam RkainaVice presidents are selected for many reasons. They may balance the ticket, helping the top man in a region or a section of the electorate where he is not strong, just as Lyndon Johnson helped John F Kennedy in 1960 to win his home state of Texas (and with it, the White House).
Or they may reinforce a candidate’s appeal, just as Al Gore underlined Bill Clinton’s message of youth, energy and new ideas in 1992.
In 2000, Dick Cheney fit neither model. His home state of Wyoming was a negligible electoral prize, while in contrast to George W. Bush’s promises of change, he seemed the incarnation of eternal, bureaucratic Washington — so much so that some feared he would lose, not win, votes for his boss.
Keep reading:
Dick Cheney: The most influential vice president in modern American history
Christian Bale once played Dick Cheney: 'Thank you to Satan for giving me inspiration'
17:04 , Katie HawkinsonChristian Bale once portrayed Dick Cheney in the 2018 biopic Vice.
Bale said he shaved his head, bleached his eyebrows and gained 40lbs for the role. The actor went on to win a Golden Globe — and thanked “Satan” for inspiring his performance.
"Thank you to Satan for giving me inspiration on how to play this role," Bale said in his 2019 award acceptance speech.
Watch: Dick Cheney spoke out against Donald Trump
16:54 , Katie HawkinsonFormer Vice President Dick Cheney was an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump.
Cheney has called Trump a “coward” and the “greatest ever threat to our Republic.” He also voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Watch Cheney’s scathing warning about the president below:
Dick Cheney labeled 'Darth Vader' by critics
16:47 , Katie HawkinsonWhile serving as vice president, comedians would often refer to Dick Cheney as Darth Vader, the infamous Star Wars villain, according to Reuters.
But Cheney took it in stride, and once said he was honored to be compared to the character. He even dressed as the Sith Lord during a Tonight Show appearance to promote his book in 2011, Reuters reports.
Senate Majority Leader honors Cheney in floor speech
16:41 , Katie HawkinsonSenate Majority Leader John Thune paid tribute to former Vice President Dick Cheney in a brief speech on the chamber floor.
“Dick was a lifelong public servant who believed very deeply in our country and brought his considerable knowledge and intelligence to his service,” Thune said Tuesday.
“As secretary of defense, and later as vice president, he played a key role in shaping policy on many of the most consequential issues of his day,” he continued. “He was also an avid outdoorsman and fly fisherman who loved spending time in the mountains of his home state.”
Cheney is survived by his wife, two daughters and seven grandchildren.
Speaker Mike Johnson on Cheney: 'Honor is clearly due to him'
16:31 , Katie HawkinsonHouse Speaker Mike Johnson honored former Vice President Dick Cheney ahead of a Tuesday morning press conference.
“Scripture is very clear, we give honor where honor is due,” Johnson said, before listing Cheney’s accomplishments.
“The honor is certainly due to him, and our prayers go out to the family,” Johnson added.
Senator Joni Ernst says Cheney 'served his country honorably and dutifully'
16:11 , Katie HawkinsonSenator Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, shared a statement honoring Vice President Dick Cheney on Tuesday morning.
“Whether Vice President, Secretary of Defense, or in Congress, Dick Cheney was always proud to be an American,” she said. “His commitment to defeat terrorism ensured there was never another 9/11. He served his country honorably and dutifully. May he rest in peace.”
George W. Bush's secretary of state remembers Cheney
16:01 , Katie HawkinsonFormer President George W. Bush’s secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, honored Dick Cheney in a post on X.
Rice called him “an inspiring presence and mentor who taught me a great deal about public service.”
“Most of all, I will remember Dick Cheney as a mentor and a friend,” she wrote. “I will remember his toughness but also his sense of humor. He was indefatigable in his determination to defend this country and patriotic to his core.”
White House flags lowered
15:51 , Katie HawkinsonThe White House lowered flags to half-staff this morning following the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney.
The White House has yet to issue a statement on Cheney’s death.
In pictures: Dick Cheney's bust in the U.S. Capitol
15:41 , Katie Hawkinson
Trump goes on Truth Social posting spree — but no mention of Cheney yet
15:34 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump is on a Truth Social posting spree this morning, but he has yet to acknowledge the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Since 8 a.m., Trump has shared at least five posts on his social media platform, two of which included calls to end the filibuster in the Senate.
John Bolton pays tribute to Cheney
15:32 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, has paid tribute to former Vice President Dick Cheney.
“America has lost an enduring patriot and principled Reaganite conservative,” Bolton wrote on X. “Few men have shaped American foreign policy with unwavering conviction and clarity like Dick Cheney. It was an honor to serve with him for so many years, may he rest in peace.”
Bolton was indicted on criminal charges last month, with prosecutors alleging he mishandled classified information. He has pleaded not guilty.
Dick Cheney’s cardiologist talks cause of death and how the former vice president faced myriad of health issues
15:25 , Brendan RasciusDick Cheney’s longtime physician shed light on the former vice president’s enduring health struggles - especially with his heart - following his death at 84.
Cheney — who served as vice president under former President George W. Bush — passed away due to complications of cardiac and vascular disease, as well as pneumonia, his family announced Tuesday.
His cardiologist, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, spoke to CNN shortly after the news was revealed, describing the Nebraska-born Republican as a “remarkable patient.”
Keep reading:
Dick Cheney’s cardiologist talks former vice president’s cause of death
George W. Bush's deputy chief of staff reveals he didn't initially want Cheney
15:18 , Katie HawkinsonKarl Rove, former President George W. Bush’s deputy chief of staff, revealed on Fox News that he initially didn’t want Dick Cheney to be his running mate.
“In fact, the president — then governor — called me and said he was coming back to town from campaigning and knew I was against the idea,” Rove told Fox News. “He said, ‘I want you to come to the governor’s mansion and make the case to me why I shouldn’t go to Cheney.’”
Rove said he had a list of eight reasons why Bush shouldn’t pick Cheney, including that Bush didn’t need to worry about Wyoming and that Cheney had his first heart attack at 37.
Rove went on to reveal why Bush ultimately selected Cheney as his running mate.
“When Bush made a decision, even if Cheney, as he often was on the opposite side of it, would be loyal and execute it in the best way possible,” Rove said. “That office is so powerful you need somebody sitting, coming in having lunch with you once a week and sitting in all the meetings who’s going to tell you what it’s like — and he also knew how a White House operated.”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine mourns Cheney
15:10 , Katie HawkinsonOhio Governor Mike DeWine issued a statement mourning former Vice President Dick Cheney.
“I first got to know him when we were members of Congress together and he was in the House Republican leadership,” DeWine wrote on X. “He was thoughtful, steady, and an advocate for his beloved Wyoming.”
“Our nation saw his leadership as U.S. Secretary of Defense, directing our military strategy during Operation Desert Storm,” he added. “Vice President Cheney served his country faithfully in every office he held. He will be missed. Fran and I send our condolences to his wife, Lynne, his daughters, Liz and Mary, and to his grandchildren.”
Cheney once backed Ukraine's NATO bid
15:00 , Katie HawkinsonFormer Vice President Dick Cheney once supported Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership during a 2008 visit to Kyiv.
“Ukraine's support for freedom is clear,” Cheney said at the time. “As President Bush noted here in Kyiv five months ago, Ukraine is the only non-NATO country supporting every NATO mission, from Afghanistan to Kosovo.
“Ukrainians have a right to choose whether they wish to join NATO,” he continued. “And NATO has a right to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance when we believe — that we believe that you are ready and that the time is right.”
Trump has opposed Ukraine joining the organization, writing on Truth Social in August that there should be “NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE.”
Afghanistan and Iraq veterans protesting shutdown in DC today
14:50 , Joe SommerladIn a strange coincidence, U.S. military veterans of the two conflicts with which Cheney is so closely associated happen to be in the nation’s capital today to call for a resolution to the ongoing government shutdown, which has left federal workers without pay for more than a month and is about to become the longest in American history unless a deal can be found today.
Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans rally in DC today to seek end to shutdown, arguing “ The shutdown has left servicemembers, veterans, military families, and survivors facing mounting financial strain, disrupted access to critical benefits, and deep uncertainty…” https://t.co/6QE2E47tXN
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) November 4, 2025
Christian Bale played Cheney in Oscar-nominated biopic
14:30 , Joe SommerladIn 2018, the veep’s life and ascent to power were detailed in the Adam McKay movie Vice, with Welsh actor Christian Bale assuming the title role in an Academy Award-nominated performance.
Cheney’s disastrous quail hunting expedition remembered
14:10 , Joe SommerladA major figure in Republican politics as we’ve seen, the late VP was also notorious for accidentally shooting his friend Harry Whittington with shotgun pellets during a hunting trip on a Texas ranch in February 2006.
As a result of Cheney’s misfire as he aimed at a flock of birds, Whittington had to be flown to hospital and placed in intensive care, where shot was removed from his face, neck and torso, with another 30 pieces left in his body.
On leaving the facility, Whittington, clearly a very gracious individual, issued an apology to Cheney in which he said: “My family and I are deeply sorry for all that Vice President Cheney and his family have had to go through this past week.
“We send our love and respect to them, as they deal with situations that are much more serious than what we’ve had to deal with this week. We hope that he will continue to come to Texas and seek the relaxation that he deserves.”
Obviously guilt-stricken, Cheney appeared on Fox News days later and delivered a mea culpa, commenting: “It’s not Harry’s fault. Ultimately, I’m the guy that pulled the trigger and shot my friend.”
In his 2011 memoir In My Time, the veep described the incident as one of the “saddest” days of his life.
Happily, Whittington, a successful lawyer, lived to the grand old age of 95, only passing away in February 2023.
George W Bush pays tribute to ‘decent, honorable’ Cheney
13:50 , Joe SommerladHere’s the 43rd president’s statement in response to the death of his long-time deputy in full:
“The death of Richard B Cheney is a loss to the nation and a sorrow to his friends. Laura and I will remember Dick Cheney for the decent, honorable man that he was. History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held.
“As a young White House aide and chief of staff, a congressman, a secretary of defense, and my vice president, Dick earned the confidence and high opinion of five presidents. I asked him to join my ticket in 2000 after first enlisting him to help me find the best running mate. In our long discussions about the qualities a vice president should have – deep experience, mature judgment, character, loyalty – I realized that Dick Cheney was the one I needed. I’m still grateful that he was at my side for the eight years that followed.
“Dick was a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges. I counted on him for his honest, forthright counsel, and he never failed to give his best. He held to his convictions and prioritized the freedom and security of the American people. For those two terms in office, and throughout his remarkable career, Dick Cheney’s service always reflected credit on the country he loved.
“Dick’s love for America was second only to his family. Laura and I have shared our deepest sympathies with Vice President Cheney’s wife Lynne and their daughters and granddaughters of whom he was so deeply proud. We are praying for Lynne, Liz, Mary, and the Cheney family as they honor a great man.”
Cheney appeared in daughter’s campaign ad to denounce Trump
13:30 , Joe SommerladThe former veep is survived by his wife, daughters, Liz and Mary Cheney, both of whom followed in their father’s footsteps into politics.
Both of his daughters have served as members of the Republican Party, although Liz campaigned for former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election.
Despite rarely being seen in public in his later years, Cheney himself appeared in one of her campaign ads in 2022.
“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 the commercial.
“He is a coward. A real man wouldn’t lie to his supporters. He lost his election, and he lost big. I know it. He knows it, and deep down, I think most Republicans know.”
Patriot. 🇺🇸😢 pic.twitter.com/WMsmMg84mU
— George Conway 🇺🇸🚫👑🐸 (@gtconway3d) November 4, 2025
We have yet to hear from either Liz Cheney or President Trump today.
In pictures: Dick Cheney in Washington
13:10 , Joe SommerladHere’s a look back at the influential Republican’s days as George W Bush’s all-powerful deputy, where he was part of a cabinet that included such figures as Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.
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Cheney had no regrets over Iraq: 'I would do it again in a minute'
12:50 , Joe SommerladDuring his career, the Nebraska native who made Wyoming his home served in three Republican administrations, first as Gerald Ford’s chief of staff, then as George HW Bush’s secretary of defense and then as George W Bush’s vice president in the aftermath of the bitter 2000 presidential election.
In the wake of the attacks of September 11 2001, Cheney told CNN’s John King that he became a changed man once the second plane hit the World Trade Center.
“At that moment, you knew this was a deliberate act,” he told King. “This was a terrorist act.”
Cheney went on to play a leading role in the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, alleging that the country had launched a program to create weapons of mass destruction.
The administration pushed the notion that the then-Iraqi government under the leadership of dictator Saddam Hussein had ties to Al-Qaeda, which had carried out 9/11.
Despite being regarded as a hugely influential figure in the administration, Cheney’s advocacy for the invasion of Iraq also made him one of the most polarising figures of the time.
He left office with an approval rating of 31 percent, according to the Pew Research Center, primarily due to his role in the 2003 war.
In 2014, he told the Senate Intelligence Committee of the invasion: “I would do it again in a minute.”
Watch: Cheney’s cardiologist pays his respects
12:35 , Joe SommerladThe former veep had a long history of heart trouble and had a successful transplant in 2012, which he hailed two years later as “the gift of life itself.”
CNN has been interviewing Dr Jonathan Reiner this morning, Cheney’s physician from 1998 to his passing, who has some warm words for the deceased.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died at 84 from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. We spoke with Dr. Jonathan Reiner, his cardiologist since 1998, about Cheney’s fight and legacy. pic.twitter.com/hh0tuAPOPW
— CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish (@CNNThisMorning) November 4, 2025
Tributes begin to roll in for late vice president
12:21 , Joe SommerladRepublicans are taking to social media to salute Cheney, with the Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson calling him: “A real Republican, to the last.”
RIP Dick Cheney.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) November 4, 2025
A real Republican, to the last.
Former Trump administration official Miles Taylor said: “His last act of public service was to defy the GOP as a vocal critic of Donald Trump. That took guts.”
BREAKING — Dick Cheney, former VP to George W. Bush, has died at 84.
— Miles Taylor (@MilesTaylorUSA) November 4, 2025
His last act of public service was to defy the GOP as a vocal critic of Donald Trump. That took guts.
Farewell, Angler.
Fox News contributor Guy Benson wrote simply: “RIP Dick Cheney.”
RIP Dick Cheney
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) November 4, 2025
Obituary: The man who harnessed unprecedented power in Bush’s White House
12:10 , Joe SommerladVice presidents are selected for many reasons, observes Rupert Cornwall in his appreciation of Cheney’s career.
They may balance the ticket, helping the top man in a region or a section of the electorate where he is not strong, just as Lyndon Johnson helped John Kennedy in 1960 to win his home state of Texas (and with it the White House).
Or they may reinforce a candidate’s appeal, just as Al Gore underlined Bill Clinton’s message of youth, energy and new ideas in 1992.
In 2000, Dick Cheney fitted neither model. His home state of Wyoming was a negligible electoral prize, while in contrast to George W Bush’s promises of change, he seemed the incarnation of eternal, bureaucratic Washington – so much so that some feared he would lose, not win, votes for his boss.
Yet, from this unpromising start, he turned himself into the most influential vice president in modern U.S. history, transforming a job once famously described as “not worth a bucket of warm spit” into an American version of the office of prime minister, subordinate to, but almost co-equal of, the presidency itself.
Dick Cheney: Former vice president who harnessed great power in the Bush White House
Dick Cheney, George W Bush’s vice president, dead at 84
11:56 , Joe SommerladCheney passed away on Monday, according to his family.
He had been suffering from pneumonia as well as cardiac and vascular disease.
“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.
“We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.”
Paul Farrell and Owen Scott have the story.
Good morning
11:50 , Joe SommerladHello and welcome to The Independent’s liveblog on the death of Dick Cheney, George W Bush’s powerful vice president from 2001 to 2009 and the architect of the “War in Terror” in response to the 9/11 terror attacks.
