By Lydia PatrickShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA striking seating arrangement from the funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney has ignited social-media interest.
A video posted by Threads user @thebidensinfocus shows politicians at the service held on November 20, 2025. The clip shows former President George W. Bush with former first lady Laura Bush, former President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, then former vice president Kamala Harris, and, next, former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence. The post gained over 452,000 views, with many fascinated by the optics of former political rivals sitting side-by-side.
Dick Cheney served as the 46th vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. Earlier, he held roles as U.S. secretary of defense and White House chief of staff. Known for his influence on U.S. national security policy—particularly in the aftermath of 9/11 and during the Iraq War—he died on November 3, 2025 at age 84.
View on Threads
The funeral took place at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and was an invitation-only event
George W. Bush served a eulogy at the service and reflected on the moment he decided to choose Dick Cheney as his vice president.
"I remember my dad's words [former President George Bush] when I told him what I was planning. He said, 'Son, you couldn't pick a better man,'" Bush said, as reported by ABC News.
Prominent absences included current President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who were reportedly not invited.
Many took to Threads to comment on the togetherness of different sides of the political spectrum.
"Where’s the Obamas?" asked Dianne Johnson.
..."So is it protocol that only former VPs attend Cheney’s funeral?…That would explain why the Clintons nor Obamas are there," wrote Lamsom.
There is no formal protocol requiring that only former vice presidents attend the funeral of another ex-vice president. High-profile funerals held at the Washington National Cathedral typically follow an invitation-only format, with the Cheney family and event organizers determining the guest list rather than a fixed governmental rule.
In this case, several former presidents and ex-vice presidents from both major parties were invited and attended the service. The Associated Press said other former presidents such as Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were invited but did not attend.
Other reactions included one commenter writing: "Notice how Joe Biden lights up as the choir sings ‘America’. That man loves this country with all his heart."
"The funeral has been a beautiful family tribute to Cheney…I was not a fan of Cheney and was touched by how fiercely his family loved him," shared Sally.
"That’s because they are gentlemen and gentle ladies! Who have respect for people and our Country," wrote Fred.
"You may not agree with all the political views of everyone seated here but you must respect the honor and decency of all these true leaders, coming together to honor a man that played a significant role in our country and democracy for a large portion of his life," another user added.
"I miss normalcy, respect, compassion," said Aileen.
Newsweek reached out to @thebidensinfocus for comment via Instagram. We could not verify the details of the case.
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