Former Vice President Mike Pence shared advice he got from the late Dick Cheney, giving a look at what Cheney thought about Donald Trump.
Both Cheney and Pence had high-profile breaks with Trump, but for different reasons. Pence’s break came after he refused to try to block the electoral college votes on January 6, 2021. He later ran against Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination.
Cheney, on the other hand, endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024 and warned that Trump posed a threat to the republic.
Speaking with CNN’s Jeff Zeleny ahead of Cheney’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, Pence shared that Cheney had contacted him shortly after the 2016 presidential election. Cheney passed on two pieces of advice he considered essential for a vice president navigating a tricky political landscape.
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The first piece of advice focused on being well-informed. Cheney told Pence to read the president’s daily brief first, even before the president himself saw it. “It was a way that he said, ‘You will be better equipped to be able to advise the president if you know in advance what’s coming and can run that through the filter of the president’s priorities,’” Pence explained. This approach helped Cheney be prepared, informed, and able to give guidance that aligned with the president’s agenda while also protecting national security interests.
The second piece of advice emphasized the importance of staying connected to Congress. Cheney encouraged Pence to spend time on Capitol Hill regularly, not just when the administration needed votes or support.
Pence said Cheney told him, “Don’t just go to Capitol Hill when the administration is looking for something; looking for a vote. But go on a regular basis.” Pence followed this advice, attending Senate lunches and meeting with lawmakers frequently, building relationships that helped him understand Congress and navigate the political process.
Pence did not directly say whether Cheney’s warnings about Trump have come true. Instead, he chose to focus on Cheney’s lifetime of public service and devotion to the country. “I would never begrudge the late vice president his opinions or political judgment,” Pence said. “But at the end of the day, I think his lifetime is evidence of the strength of this nation. And in a very real sense, as we go forward, I think people will continue to be inspired by his devotion to our military, his devotion to our national defense, and a lifetime of service — and that’s where we should focus today.”
The situation becomes even more striking with Trump’s recent posts online. On Wednesday, the same day Pence spoke about Cheney, Trump posted on Truth Social calling for violence against Democratic lawmakers. One post said, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!” In another, he wrote, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” These posts show the big difference between Cheney’s steady, careful approach and Trump’s extreme, aggressive talk.
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
