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U.S. leaders gathered on Thursday, November 20, to honor the late Dick Cheney, but former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were notably absent. Cheney, who died on November 3 at age 84, served as Vice President under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009 and previously held positions including White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense.
Attendees included George W. Bush, Liz Cheney, and lawmakers from both parties. Former President Trump and Vice President JD Vance reportedly were not invited.
Barack Obama paid tribute on Facebook, saying, “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 has skipped other high-profile events, including Jimmy Carter’s funeral and Trump’s second inauguration. On her IMO podcast, she explained, “It took all my strength to stop doing what others expected and start doing what felt right for me… Practice the ‘art of saying no’ when it feels like the right decision.”
