U.S. leaders gathered on Thursday, November 20, to honor former Vice President Dick Cheney at his funeral — but the absence of Barack and Michelle Obama drew notable attention.
Cheney, who di:ed on November 3 at age 84, was a prominent businessman and a deeply influential, often polarizing figure in American politics. He served two terms as vice president under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.
Before that, Cheney had built a long career in public service. He was President Gerald Ford’s White House chief of staff in the 1970s, later represented Wyoming in the House for a decade, and was appointed defense secretary by President George H.W. Bush. In that role, he oversaw the first Gulf War and the U.S. invasion of Panama.
His family said he passed away from complications related to pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, with his wife, Lynne, and daughters, Liz and Mary, at his side.
Among those paying tribute at the service were George W. Bush, Liz Cheney, and numerous lawmakers from both parties. However, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance were not invited, a White House official told Reuters.
The Obamas were also absent. A source told PEOPLE that they had no plans to attend, though no reason was given. Days after Cheney’s passing, on November 5, Barack Obama shared a brief tribute on Facebook, writing, “Although Dick Cheney and I came from very different political traditions, I respected his commitment to public service and his deep love for his country. Michelle and I offer our heartfelt condolences to his family.”
Michelle Obama’s absence follows other high-profile events she declined to attend earlier in the year — including the January 9 funeral of former President Jimmy Carter and Trump’s second inauguration later that month. All five living presidents and First Ladies were present at Carter’s funeral, while Barack attended both events alone.
Her decisions sparked debate at the time. Businessman Kevin O’Leary told Fox News he believed skipping the inauguration was “wrong,” arguing that a tradition more than a century old should be upheld.
In April, Michelle addressed the criticism on her IMO podcast, explaining that she is learning to set boundaries and prioritize her well-being.
“It took everything in me to stop living by others’ expectations and start doing what felt right for me,” she said. “That was a difficult shift.”
Saying no to certain events, she added, is now part of that growth.
“Practice the art of saying no when it feels like the right decision.”
She went on to say, “It’s a muscle you have to build. For us, it feels like we only started exercising it later in life — and I’m just now learning how to use it.”
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