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At a packed service at Washington National Cathedral, former Vice President Mike Pence said a private moment with the late Dick Cheney reaffirmed his decision to certify the 2020 election. The exchange has returned attention to the deep political rifts that followed Jan. 6 and to Cheney’s evolution from a 2016 Trump backer to one of his most vocal critics.
Pence describes a quiet moment of praise from Cheney
Speaking to MS NOW after the service, Pence recounted that Cheney leaned toward him during the funeral and offered a brief, pointed compliment about Pence’s actions on Jan. 6, 2021. Pence said he valued the remark and would keep it with him.
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Why the moment mattered
- Pence framed the remark as a personal validation of his role in certifying the election results.
- The exchange took place in a solemn setting, underscoring the personal as well as political weight of the comment.
- It highlights how Jan. 6 continues to shape relationships among conservative leaders.
Cheney’s political arc and the funeral guest list
Dick Cheney’s stance shifted sharply after the January 2021 Capitol attack. Once an active supporter of Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, Cheney later became one of Trump’s fiercest Republican critics.
- Cheney spoke out strongly against efforts to overturn the 2020 results.
- In 2024, Cheney publicly said he would cast his vote for Kamala Harris, calling Trump a threat to democracy.
- Cheney’s funeral reportedly did not include invitations to Trump or to Vice President JD Vance.
Pence honors Cheney as a principled conservative
Pence praised Cheney’s long public service and his commitment to conservative causes. He described Cheney as a man who stood for principle and who left a significant mark on American policy and politics.
Pence said the nation would remember Cheney as an extraordinary public servant and emphasized Cheney’s influence on the conservative movement.
Sharp rhetoric from Trump amid the funeral coverage
Coverage of the funeral coincided with a wave of aggressive posts from former President Trump on his social platform. Those posts attacked lawmakers who urged troops to reject illegal orders and used inflammatory language.
- Trump reshared messages calling for violent punishment of political opponents.
- He labeled their behavior “seditious” and urged arrests and trials, saying harsh measures were needed to set an example.
- The posts revived concerns about incendiary political rhetoric and its real-world effects.
What observers note about the moment and the messaging
Analysts see Pence’s public remarks and Cheney’s absence of support for Trump as part of a broader post-Jan. 6 realignment among conservative figures. The funeral became a focal point for those divisions.
- Personal exchanges, like the one Pence reported, can reframe how officials view difficult decisions.
- Funerals and other public rituals sometimes surface private alliances or condemnations.
- Social media posts by major political figures continue to shape national discussion and concern.
