Pelosi Retires, Cheney Dies – Trump Deals With It In Scorn And Silence

Photo: The AI generated image that the President posted of himself

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – In American politics, even the fiercest rivals have traditionally found a few gracious words to mark the death or retirement of their opponents. From Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill to Barack Obama and John McCain, civility at such moments has been a small but vital gesture to keep public discourse from fully fracturing. But once again, President Donald Trump is breaking precedent—refusing to offer perfunctory kindness.

In the days since the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney, Trump has remained silent. More than 24 hours after the announcement, the president had yet to issue a statement of condolence. The White House confirmed that flags were lowered to half-staff “in accordance with statutory law,” but offered no personal comment from Trump himself. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said only that the president “is aware” of Cheney’s passing and “hasn’t gotten to” speaking with the family.

The silence was notable, if not surprising. Cheney, who died November 3 at age 84 from pneumonia and heart disease, represented the pre-Trump Republican establishment—one that came to despise Trump’s rise and his influence over the GOP. In his final years, the former vice president became a sharp critic, calling Trump “a coward” and “the greatest threat to our republic.” His daughter, former Representative Liz Cheney, went even further, breaking with her party to back Trump’s second impeachment and later endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.

Trump’s unwillingness to offer sympathy echoes his behavior toward other political adversaries. On the same day news of Cheney’s death spread, Trump chose instead to celebrate the retirement of another longtime nemesis—former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“The retirement of Nancy Pelosi is a great thing for America,” Trump wrote in a message to Fox News reporter Peter Doocy, who read the statement on air. “She was evil, corrupt, and only focused on bad things for our country. I’m very honored that she impeached me twice and failed miserably twice. Nancy Pelosi is a highly overrated politician.”

Pelosi, 85, announced on November 6 that she would not seek re-election in 2026, ending a historic congressional career that made her the first and only woman to serve as Speaker of the House. Her six-minute farewell video was a tribute to her San Francisco constituents and decades of service: “Thank you, San Francisco, for trusting me to be your voice in Congress. May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.”

Her relationship with Trump, however, was anything but warm. She presided over both of his impeachments, often getting the better of him politically—most memorably when she tore up his State of the Union speech on live television

It’s a pattern that has defined his second term: not magnanimity, but payback. His silence on Cheney and his scorn for Pelosi underline how personal grievances continue to shape his presidency.