Rachel Maddow’s attendance at Dick Cheney’s funeral draws attention

Rachel Maddow acknowledged Dick Cheney’s influence after the service while stressing she disagreed with most of his major decisions.

Rachel Maddow expressed respect for Dick Cheney as she exited Washington National Cathedral after the service (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Rachel Maddow, the liberal MS NOW host, surprised many by attending the funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Cheney died at age 84 on Tuesday, November 4, after complications from pneumonia and heart and vascular disease.

Rachel Maddow at Dick Cheney funeral

Mark Milley, Rachel Maddow, and Hollyanne Milley arrived together for the funeral at Washington National Cathedral (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Maddow was seen seated in the pews of Washington National Cathedral during Cheney’s memorial service, positioned next to Dr. Anthony Fauci, with Democratic strategist James Carville a few seats away.

Her appearance drew notice because she has spent years sharply criticizing Cheney’s approach to national security. She has previously referred to him as the “maestro of terror politics,” often framing him as one of the most consequential and controversial figures in modern American foreign policy.
Liz Cheney walked past her father’s casket during the memorial service at Washington National Cathedral (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Speaking briefly to reporters outside the cathedral, Maddow said Cheney “had changed the country in ways that I almost 100 percent disagree with.” She added that although she opposed most of his decisions, she respected how unwaveringly he supported his daughter Liz Cheney during her confrontation with President Trump. “I think it was a really heroic stand, it’s humbling to me. You know, we contain multitudes,” she said.

Maddow has consistently pushed back against Cheney’s defense of the Iraq War and his expansive view of executive authority, arguing that his supporters “wildly over-credited” him for policy moves she considered damaging and dangerous.
Dick Cheney was honored for his decades of government service after dying at age 84 from health complications (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Leaders gather to honor Dick Cheney

Cheney’s funeral drew a large bipartisan turnout. Former President George W. Bush led the group of mourners, joined by former President Joe Biden, four former vice presidents, and numerous political figures who shaped Washington during the era in which Cheney held power.

Bush delivered a heartfelt eulogy, recalling Cheney as a man defined by discipline, steadiness, and loyalty. He described him as “the model of concentration, alertness, and composure” and spoke warmly of what he called “the Cheney Way,” a reference to his longtime friend’s methodical approach to public service.

Paul Wolfowitz, who served as deputy defense secretary under Bush, reflected on Cheney’s role after 9/11. He described him as a calm and thoughtful leader during the most volatile moments. “He kept us safe,” Wolfowitz said, pointing to the absence of further large-scale attacks during that period.
Dr. Anthony Wolfe joined Dick Cheney during an American Medical Odyssey event in Miami in 2013 (Michele Eve Sandberg/Corbis via Getty Images)
Liz Cheney remembered her father as a “giant to the end” and emphasized his lifelong commitment to serving the country.

Notably absent from the service were former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who were reportedly not invited. Their absence highlighted the political rifts that remained in Cheney’s final years, particularly as he became one of the most prominent Republican critics of Trump.