Here’s what conservatives need to know.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, once considered the ultimate Washington power broker, has died — drawing solemn tributes from political insiders and mixed reactions from conservatives who never forgot his open disdain for President Donald Trump and the America First movement.
Former President George W. Bush released a statement Tuesday calling Cheney’s death “a loss to the nation.” Bush said Cheney was “the one I needed” as his running mate during the 2000 election and praised his longtime ally as “a man of integrity and purpose.”
“Laura and I will always remember Dick Cheney as a man of integrity and decency,” Bush said. “History will view him as one of the most dedicated public servants of his time — a true patriot who approached every role with intelligence, purpose, and resolve.”
Cheney served as Bush’s vice president from 2001 to 2009, a period defined by the 9/11 attacks, the war on terror, and the invasion of Iraq — policies that many conservatives later came to view as costly mistakes driven by globalist priorities.
Before his vice presidency, Cheney held nearly every powerful position in Washington — congressman, defense secretary, and White House chief of staff — earning him a reputation as a career insider and symbol of the pre-Trump Republican establishment.
Bush commended Cheney for being a “steady and reliable voice” in difficult moments, noting that he could always rely on his “honest advice and unwavering dedication.”
However, in the years after leaving office, Cheney and his daughter Liz Cheney became outspoken critics of President Trump and his supporters — aligning with Democrats and the D.C. media to attack America First conservatives. Both Cheneys even endorsed Kamala Harris and the Biden-era agenda in 2024, a move that alienated much of the GOP base.
While the mainstream media and political class have mourned Cheney as a “patriot,” many on the right remember him as a symbol of the old Republican Party — one that put Washington elites and endless wars ahead of working Americans.
“He held to his convictions and prioritized the freedom and security of the American people,” Bush concluded, adding that Cheney’s love for America was second only to his love for family.
Bush also extended condolences to Cheney’s wife, Lynne, and daughters Liz and Mary, saying, “We are praying for the Cheney family as they honor a great man.”
