Dick Cheney, the vice president under the George W. Bush administration who died on Nov. 3, was a vocal critic of President Donald Trump.

Cheney was 84 years old and died of complications of pneumonia as well as cardiac and vascular disease, his family said in a statement. He is widely considered one of the most powerful vice presidents in American history.

Cheney was part of a small group of prominent Republicans who do not support Trump. He said he voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

"There has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump," Cheney said ahead of the 2024 election. Here is what to know:

What did Dick Cheney say about Donald Trump?

Cheney was a powerful conservative force, expanding the powers of the vice presidency to promote issues like oil-and-gas production and military action in Iraq.

Cheney originally endorsed Trump in 2016. But he joined the likes of Sen. Mitt Romney, Bush and Trump's former vice president Mike Pence in refusing to endorse him in 2024. Cheney's split from Trump came after the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol.

"He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him," Cheney said when announcing he would vote for Harris. "He can never be trusted with power again. As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution."

Cheney also called Trump a "coward" in a campaign ad for his daughter Liz Cheney, a former Congresswoman from Wyoming who helped lead the House Committee that investigated the insurrection.

"Dick Cheney is an irrelevant RINO, along with his daughter," Trump said in a Truth Social post ahead of the election. (RINO stands for "Republicans in Name Only.")

Who is Dick Cheney?

Cheney was a powerful and controversial vice president under the second Bush administration. With a hawkish reputation, he was a big driving force behind the war in Iraq, devised energy policies and pushed for the expansion of executive powers.

A Republican congressman from Wyoming in the 1980s and defense secretary for the elder President George H.W. Bush, Cheney's first prominent role in Washington was as deputy chief of staff and later White House chief of staff for President Gerald Ford.

"Dick was a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges," Bush said in a statement. "I counted on him for his honest, forthright counsel, and he never failed to give his best."

Cheney is survived by his wife Lynne, daughters Mary and Liz and several grandchildren.

“Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing,” his family said in a statement. “We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.”

Who was Dick Cheney the vice president for?

Cheney was the vice president under former President George W. Bush, from 2001-2009.

How old was Dick Cheney?

Cheney died at 84 years old.

Trump and Bush are both 79 years old. Former President Joe Biden is 82 years old.

Contributing: Melina Khan, Sarah D. Wire, Joey Garrison, Susan Page, David Jackson, USA TODAY

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What did Dick Cheney think of Trump? The late VP was a critic of the president

Reporting by Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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