Flags across the United States are flying at half-staff this week to honor former Vice President Dick Cheney, who passed away on November 3, 2025, at the age of 84. The sight of lowered flags follows a White House directive issued on November 4, a gesture made in accordance with statutory law for a former vice president. The somber tribute comes amid a notably muted response from the current presidential administration, highlighting the deep political divisions that marked the final years of Cheney’s life.
Cheney, who served as the 46th vice president from 2001 to 2009, was a towering and polarizing figure in American politics. His family stated he died from complications of pneumonia and long-standing cardiac and vascular disease. Remembered by many colleagues as a patriot and a decisive leader, he is also widely considered one of the most powerful and influential vice presidents in U.S. history, a role he defined through his central involvement in the nation’s response to the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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A Tribute Steeped in Protocol and Politics
The decision to lower flags was confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who noted the action was taken “in accordance with statutory law.” The U.S. Flag Code indeed stipulates that the flag be flown at half-staff for a former vice president from the day of death until interment. This protocol has been observed by various states and federal institutions, including the United States Postal Service, which ordered flags at its facilities to half-staff through the day of Cheney’s funeral.
Flags flew at half staff today on Capitol Hill to honor former VP Dick Cheney after his death
Taken from House Triangle pic.twitter.com/HRRdbqhld1
— Leah V. (@LeahVredenbregt) November 4, 2025
However, the administrative action was not accompanied by any personal words from President Donald Trump or Vice President J.D. Vance. When asked, Press Secretary Leavitt stated that the White House was not involved in funeral planning and that the president, while aware of the passing, had not issued a formal statement. This silence stands in stark contrast to the effusive tributes from other Republican leaders. Former President George W. Bush, whom Cheney served for two terms, described him as “among the finest public servants of his generation.” This divergence underscores the fractured relationship between the modern GOP and the Cheney family, which became a focal point of anti-Trump sentiment within the party.
A Divisive Legacy and Final Arrangements
Dick Cheney’s legacy is a complex and deeply contested one. As vice president, he was a key architect of the “war on terror,” a forceful advocate for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and a defender of “enhanced interrogation techniques” that many critics labeled as torture. He left office with low approval ratings, unapologetic for decisions that he believed were necessary to protect the country.
In an ironic turn for a lifelong conservative, Cheney’s final years were defined by his vocal opposition to Donald Trump. In a powerful 2022 campaign ad for his daughter Liz, he looked into the camera and declared Trump “a coward” and “the greatest threat to our republic” in American history. This stance culminated in his 2024 presidential vote for Democrat Kamala Harris, a move that further isolated him from the party he helped build.
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A funeral service for the former vice president is scheduled for November 20 at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. As of November 6, it was not yet publicly known whether he will be granted a state funeral or lie in state at the U.S. Capitol, honors that would provide a final, formal recognition of his decades of service, even from a political landscape he ultimately rejected.
