U.S. leaders gathered on Thursday (November 20) for the funeral of Dick Cheney but the absence of Barack and Michelle Obama stood out.
Cheney, who passed away on November 3 at 84, was a businessman and former U.S. Vice President, serving two terms under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009.
Before that, he had been President Gerald Ford’s White House chief of staff in the 1970s and later spent ten years in the House of Representatives.
He was appointed defense secretary by President George H.W. Bush, overseeing the first Gulf War and the U.S. invasion of Panama. Throughout his career, Cheney became one of the most divisive vice presidents in American politics.
His family announced that he di:ed due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, surrounded by his wife Lynne and daughters Liz and Mary.
Those who honored him at the service included George W. Bush, Liz Cheney, and a long list of lawmakers from both parties.
However, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance were not invited, a White House official told Reuters.
Meanwhile, the Obamas were also absent. A source told PEOPLE they had no plans to attend but did not explain why.
On November 5, Barack Obama posted a tribute on Facebook: “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 notable events she skipped this year, including the January 9 funeral of former President Jimmy Carter and Trump’s second inauguration later that month.
All five living presidents and the First Ladies attended Carter’s funeral, and Barack went to both ceremonies alone.
Her decision drew criticism at the time. Businessman Kevin O’Leary told Fox News he believed her choice to skip the inauguration was “wrong,” adding that the tradition has lasted more than a century and should be respected.
According to PEOPLE, Michelle addressed her recent absences on her IMO podcast in April, explaining that she’s learning to “say no.”
She said, “It took all my strength to stop doing what others expected and start doing what felt right for me. That was a tough shift.”
She added that choosing which events to attend is part of that — declining when she feels it’s the right call.
“Practice the ‘art of saying no’ when it feels like the right decision.”
The former First Lady continued, “It’s a muscle you have to build, and we struggled because it feels like we started training late in life. I’m only now beginning to develop it.”
