Dick Cheney, the former US vice-president, has died aged 84, his family said.
Cheney, who served as vice-president under George W Bush, died on Monday evening, according to a family statement.
He is widely considered to have been the most powerful – and polarising – vice-president in US history, having served in the role between 2001 and 2009.
During his later years, he was largely ostracised from the Republican party over his fierce criticism of Donald Trump, whom he described as a “coward”, and his decision to vote for Kamala Harris.
Cheney suffered from cardiovascular disease throughout most of his adult life, surviving a series of heart attacks. He died owing to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family said.
Vice-president Dick Cheney dances with his wife Lynne at a ceremony to mark the 22th birthday of the Marine Corps in 2001 – RICK BOWMER/AP
The family statement read: “Richard B. Cheney, vice-president of the United States, died last night, November 3, 2025. He was 84 years old. His beloved wife of 61 years, Lynne, his daughters Liz and Mary, and other family members were with him as he passed.
“The former vice-president died due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. For decades, Dick Cheney served our nation, including as White House chief of staff, Wyoming’s congressman, secretary of defence, and vice-president of the United States.
“Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honour, love, kindness, and fly fishing.
“We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.”
George Bush, left, with Colin Powell, centre, and Dick Cheney in Michigan in November 2000 – PAUL J. RICHARDS/EPA
As well as serving as vice-president, Cheney was a former representative for Wyoming, a White House chief of staff, and defence secretary. His career was largely defined by America’s “War on Terror”, which was instigated after the 9/11 attack on New York.
Cheney was a vociferous backer of the decision to invade Iraq, dismissing war critics as “opportunists”. Years down the line, Cheney insisted he had no regrets about the war, telling CNN in 2015: “It was the right thing to do then. I believed it then and I believe it now.” His latter years were defined by an ongoing conflict between the Cheney and Trump families.
Cheney supported Mr Trump in 2016, despite the president’s criticism of the Bush-Cheney administration, but later turned on him after he refused to accept the result of the 2020 election.
He later backed his daughter Liz Cheney’s campaign against a pro-Trump candidate during the 2022 midterms.
Cheney read during the advert: “In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump,” Cheney said. “He is a coward. A real man wouldn’t lie to his supporters. He lost his election, and he lost big. I know it. He knows it, and deep down, I think most Republicans know.”
Despite remaining an avid conservative, he sealed his separation from Mr Trump’s Republican party by voting for Kamala Harris during the 2024 election.
