London24NEWS

Dick Cheney funeral stay: George Bush pays emotional tribute as ex-VP’s granddaughter breaks down throughout eulogy

George W. Bush emotionally eulogized his former VP Dick Cheney at his funeral service on Thursday morning at the Washington National Cathedral.

He prayed that the pair would meet again before saying that he was ‘grateful for his good life’ and honored his service. 

Following Bush, Cheney’s grandchildren Elizabeth, Richard and Grace Perry paid tribute to their late grandfather, recalling some of their fondest memories of him to the political elite in attendance. 

President Donald Trump and JD Vance were snubbed of invitations as Cheney was a longtime opponent of Trump and his policies, once labeling Trump ‘the greatest threat to the United States in history.’

Cheney died on November 3 at age 84 from complications with pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.

Follow along for the latest updates. 

Bush calls Cheney friend who he hopes to ‘meet again’

George W. Bush said his friend Dick Cheney was content to stay out of the spotlight in his final years, and he hopes their paths will cross again one day.

‘In his final years, he was content to go his way,’ Bush said.

‘It’s something to be cherished when a man of his caliber has been your colleague and friend.

‘We are grateful for his good life, we honor his service, and we pray that somewhere up the trail, we will meet him again.’

Former President George W. Bush walks by the casket with former Vice President Dick Cheney, after giving a tribute during the service at the Washington National Cathedral, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

The Cheney family look solemn outside of the Washington National Cathedral

Former Representative Liz Cheney, former US second lady Lynne Cheney, and Dick Cheney’s grandchildren Richard Perry, Grace Perry, and Elizabeth Perry, watch as former VP Dick Cheney’s casket is put back into the hearse at the end of his funeral service.

Former Representative Liz Cheney, former U.S. second lady Lynne Cheney, and Dick Cheney's grandchildren Richard Perry, Grace Perry, and Elizabeth Perry, watch as former Vice President Dick Cheney's casket is put back into the hearse at the end of his funeral service, at Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C., U.S., November 20, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Leavitt says American wages are up 3.8%

In this afternoon’s White House press briefing, Karoline Leavitt said the US has added 119,000 new jobs to the economy in the latest jobs report, with wages up 3.8%.

‘President Trump’s entire economic agenda, his aim that we’re putting more money back into the pockets of hard working Americans,’ she said.

She also added said that Thanksgiving dinner will cost less for Americans this year, with the price of turkey down 16%.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt fixes her hair as she speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 20, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Karoline Leavitt confirms Trump will dismantle the Department of Education

At a White House briefing on Thursday afternoon, press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed President Trump is taking steps to fulfil his promise to close the US Department of Education and return education policy to a state and local level.

She said that at least $3trillion taxpayer dollars had been spent by the Department of Education since the Reagan administration, with reading and writing scores hardly more proficient among US students.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Dick Cheney’s casket is escorted out of the service by military guard

Clergy members walk ahead of the casket during late US Vice President Dick Cheney's funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on November 20, 2025. Dick Cheney, celebrated as a master Republican strategist but defined by the darkest chapters of America's "War on Terror," was honored Thursday in a funeral attended by Washington's elite that pointedly left out President Donald Trump. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

George W. Bush gets emotional at Cheney’s funeral

Former President George W. Bush wiped away at tear at Dick Cheney’s funeral.

(L/R) Former US President George W. Bush wipes reacts next to former US President Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, former US Vice President Kamala Harris, former US Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence as he attends the funeral service for late US Vice President Dick Cheney at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on November 20, 2025. Dick Cheney, celebrated as a master Republican strategist but defined by the darkest chapters of America's "War on Terror," was honored Thursday in a funeral attended by Washington's elite that pointedly left out President Donald Trump. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Dick Cheney’s final words revealed

Liz Cheney revealed her father’s final words and described the skies about her parents’ house the night he died as ‘filled with clouds in the shape of winged angels.’

‘As my dad left this earth, his last words were to tell my mother he loved her,’ she said.

Cheney ended her remarks with a reference from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, saying, ‘And now all of us who loved him so dearly, say to him: Good night, sweet Dad. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.’

Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, walks off after speaking a tribute to her father, during the funeral for former Vice President Dick Cheney, at the Washington National Cathedral, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Cheney’s doctor described former VP as a patient

Dr. Jonathan Reiner, Cheney’s former cardiologist, described the former VP’s battle with heart disease.

‘No one wants a doctor who’s great at funerals,’ Reiner joked as he opened his speech.

He said Cheney was brave and had a deep respect for medicine.

‘He never allowed politics to influence his healthcare decisions,’ Reiner said.

‘His wasn’t a false courage cloaked by a thin veneer of bravado, but rather a genuine fortitude in the face of true mortal peril. He lived most of his adult life chased by a relentless disease intent on killing him, but he never looked over his shoulder. He only looked ahead.’

Dr. Jonathan Reiner, speaks a tribute during the funeral service for former Vice President Dick Cheney at the Washington National Cathedral, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Liz Cheney says country over party was easy choice for her father

Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney said her father, Dick Cheney, thought it was an easy choice to pick country over party.

‘For him, a choice between defense of the Constitution and defense of your political party was no choice at all,’ she said.

The former vice president – once a villain for Democrats amid controversy over the Iraq war during the Republican George W. Bush administration – defended his daughter during her war with MAGA and called Trump the ‘greatest threat’ to the US.

Former Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, daughter of late US Vice President Dick Cheney speaks during a funeral service for her father at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on November 20, 2025. Dick Cheney, celebrated as a master Republican strategist but defined by the darkest chapters of America's "War on Terror," was honored Thursday in a funeral attended by Washington's elite that pointedly left out President Donald Trump. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Liz Cheney says Republican dad was inspired by JFK

Liz Cheney recounted that while her father was a student at the University of Wyoming, he heard JFK urge young people to go into public service.

‘Dick Cheney became a Republican, but he knew that bonds of party must always yield to the single bond we share as Americans,’ she said.

Former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY), late former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter, touches her father's casket after speaking at a funeral service for him, at Washington National Cathedral, in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 20, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Teary-eyed Liz Cheney remembers her father

Former GOP Representative Liz Cheney remembered her father and his love for America.

‘My dad’s devotion to America was deep and substantive. He spent his life studying the history of our great republic,’ she said.

‘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.’

Former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY), late former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter, speaks during a funeral service for her father, at Washington National Cathedral, in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 20, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Dick Cheney’s grandchildren Elizabeth, Richard and Grace Perry pay tribute to their grandpa

Dick Cheney’s grandchildren paid a heartfelt tribute to their grandfather during his funeral service on Thursday afternoon.

Their mother, Liz Cheney, wiped away tears as her three kids took turns sharing their fond memories of him.

They recollected times of cooking the Thanksgiving turkey, fishing, watching old movies and going to rodeos together.

‘He always told us how proud he was of us, and we will always try to follow his example,’ said grandson Richard Perry.

Late former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's grandchildren attend a funeral service for him, at Washington National Cathedral, in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 20, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Elizabeth Perry, Richard Perry and Grace Perry, grandchildren of the late US Vice President Dick Cheney, speaks during Cheney's funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on November 20, 2025. Dick Cheney, celebrated as a master Republican strategist but defined by the darkest chapters of America's "War on Terror," was honored Thursday in a funeral attended by Washington's elite that pointedly left out President Donald Trump. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)