Dick Cheney remembered as ‘steady’ force, praised and criticised in US politics

US political leaders offered their condolences in reaction to the news that Dick Cheney had died, with George W Bush describing his former vice-president as “a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges”. Bush wrote in a statement that he would remember Cheney “for the decent honorable man that he was” and that history would remember him “as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence and seriousness of purpose to every position he held”. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming offered praise. “Wyoming mourns the passing of Vice President Dick Cheney,” he wrote on X. Related: Dick Cheney, vice-president and giant of Republican politics, dies aged 84 “His unflinching leadership shaped many of the biggest moments in domestic and US foreign policy for decades. Dick will be remembered as a towering figure who helped guide the course of history in Wyoming, the United States, and around the world.” The White House has yet to release a statement. Donald Trump was active on Truth Social this morning but has not posted about Cheney’s death. Lawmakers from other states also weighed in on the 46th vice-president. “He devoted much of his life to serving the United States – from Congress to the Pentagon to the White House,” wrote the Republican senator Jon Husted of Ohio on X. “He had an unwavering commitment to our nation’s security, strength, and founding values.” Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa wrote: “Whether Vice President, Secretary of Defense, or in Congress, Dick Cheney was always proud to be an American. His commitment to defeat terrorism ensured there was never another 9/11. He served his country honorably and dutifully. May he rest in peace.” The Ohio governor, Mike DeWine, wrote: “I first got to know [Cheney] when we were members of Congress together and he was in the House Republican leadership. He was thoughtful, steady, and an advocate for his beloved Wyoming. Our nation saw his leadership as US Secretary of Defense, directing our military strategy during Operation Desert Storm. Vice President Cheney served his country faithfully in every office he held. He will be missed.” John Thune, the Senate’s Republican majority leader, wrote: “Dick Cheney was a lifelong public servant who believed very deeply in our country and brought his considerable knowledge and intelligence to its service.” Cheney’s role in the Iraq War, programs of torture and extraordinary rendition and the rightward tilt of Republican politics left lingering enemies on the left, while his turn away from Trump and populism in his last years produced enemies on the right. Omar Suleiman, a US Islamic scholar and civil rights activist, wrote of Cheney’s death: “May the 1 million murdered souls of Iraq haunt you for eternity.” Hasan Piker, a progressive political commentator wrote bluntly on X that Cheney was “genuinely one of the most evil people to exist in modern history, i cannot stress this enough. he got zero punishment for his actions. caused incalculable harm to entire regions. millions killed, tens of millions displaced and he got to pass away quietly surrounded by family”. Far-right radio host Alex Jones was equally critical in a video posted to X. “Dick Cheney, one of the most evil men in modern history, died yesterday at 84,” he said, making a mistake of the date. “Whereas I don’t really like to ever celebrate anybody’s death, this is just another bellwether sign of the old evil neocon globalist establishment dying and passing away.” Jones went on to recapitulate conspiracies about the 9-11 attacks and Cheney’s involvement. “He’s burning in hell in my opinion.” George Santos, disgraced former Republican congressman from New York, whose sentence Trump commuted last month, wrote: “Dick Cheney will meet his maker and will have lots of explaining to do. I wish his family well all things considered, but I haven’t and won’t ever shed a tear for a war criminal of his ilk.” The former Michigan attorney general and congressman Bill Schuette of Michigan reminisced about his and Cheney’s service together in Washington. “He was a good man, a unique Statesman and a proud American,” Schuette wrote. Robert Doar, president of the center-right thinktank American Enterprise Institute, noted the passing of its former alumni. “He was a force in the conservative movement and made a profound impact on our country,” Doar wrote. A few Democrats also offered condolences. Abigail Spanberger, a former congresswoman and Democratic candidate in Tuesday’s election for Virginia governor, wrote: “My prayers are with the family of Vice President Dick Cheney today — his wife Lynne Cheney, his daughters Liz and Mary, and their families — as they mourn his passing.” Betty McCollum, a Democratic representative from Minnesota, wrote: “My condolences are with my former colleague Liz Cheney and her family as they mourn the death of her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney. Her father was at her side as she stood up to Donald Trump and worked to protect our democracy.”