Overview
- Former Vice President Dick Cheney died last week at 84, prompting a wave of tributes and renewed scrutiny of his record.
- Prominent Republican hawks such as Sens. Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and Tom Cotton praised Cheney’s service and aggressive foreign‑policy stance.
- Many MAGA‑aligned figures offered little public condolence, with President Trump remaining silent as his press secretary said flags were lowered because law required it.
- Debate has centered on Cheney’s role in promoting the 2003 Iraq invasion and the post‑9/11 ‘One Percent Doctrine’ that treated low‑probability threats as certainties.
- Defenders argue his decisions reflected patriotism and fear of another attack, while critics cite the war’s human costs and his expansion of vice‑presidential influence.