Rachel Maddow’s presence at former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral on November 20, 2025, at Washington National Cathedral stunned observers, given her past criticisms of Cheney as a “war criminal.” Seated with Anthony Fauci and James Carville, the MSNBC host’s appearance highlighted fractured GOP loyalties and anti-Trump alliances. Social media erupted with hypocrisy accusations, memes, and defenses, amid notable absences like Donald Trump and JD Vance. Explore the reactions, context, and what it says about America’s divided politics.
The funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney on November 20, 2025, at Washington National Cathedral was already a poignant affair, drawing bipartisan dignitaries to honor a polarizing figure who died on November 3 at age 84 from complications of pneumonia and heart disease. But one attendee turned heads: MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, a longtime critic of Cheney’s Iraq War policies and national security tactics. Spotted hugging New Yorker writer Susan Glasser and seated beside Anthony Fauci and James Carville, Maddow’s presence fueled a whirlwind of online reactions, from mockery to reflections on shifting political fault lines in Trump’s America. (102 words)
The Unlikely Guest: Maddow’s History with Cheney
Rachel Maddow, 52, built much of her career dissecting Cheney’s influence during the George W. Bush administration. On her MSNBC show—now rebranded as “MS NOW”—she once dubbed him the “maestro of terror” for his role in post-9/11 policies, including the Iraq invasion and enhanced interrogation techniques. In a 2008 segment, she accused him of being a “war criminal,” a label that echoed liberal outrage over the war’s human and financial toll, estimated at over 4,500 U.S. troop deaths and $2 trillion by Brown University’s Costs of War project.
Fast-forward to 2024: Cheney endorsed Kamala Harris against Donald Trump, citing threats to democracy—a stance that aligned him with Democrats and his daughter Liz Cheney’s anti-Trump crusade. Maddow attended as a family guest, per reports, signaling a thaw born of shared opposition to Trump. “Time can ease a lot of rage,” noted TIME magazine, capturing the surreal optics of a liberal icon mourning a conservative hawk.
The cathedral pews underscored this: Fauci, the COVID-era lightning rod; Carville, the Clinton-era strategist; and Maddow, all rubbing elbows in a space that felt like a “swamp reunion,” as one X user quipped.
The Funeral Scene: Bipartisan Mourning Amid Absences
Washington National Cathedral, site of state funerals from Eisenhower to Bush, hosted a service blending solemn tributes and subtle jabs at the current era. Eulogies from George W. Bush—”They don’t come any better than Dick Cheney”—and daughter Liz emphasized his loyalty and constitutional fidelity, sidestepping Iraq controversies.
Attendees spanned parties: Presidents Joe Biden and George W. Bush; former VPs Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore; ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi; and military figures like Gen. Mark Milley, who walked in with Maddow. Notably absent: President Trump and VP JD Vance, snubbed due to Cheney’s family feud with Trump over January 6. Vance offered condolences elsewhere, but Trump stayed silent, even as he posted threats against Democrats that day.
The event evoked a pre-Trump Washington, with small talk among old guards. As Politico observed, it mourned not just Cheney but a “less raucous” era, where figures like Bill Kristol chatted freely. Cheney’s casket, flanked by family, symbolized a bridge—or rift—between GOP old and new.
Social Media Storm: Hypocrisy, Memes, and Hot Takes
Maddow’s attendance exploded online within hours, amassing thousands of X posts by Friday. Fox News’ headline—”Rachel Maddow attending Dick Cheney’s funeral sparks social media frenzy”—went viral, with clips of her next to Fauci racking up over 500,000 views.
Critics pounced on perceived hypocrisy. X user @RealTheoWold’s post—”Rachel Maddow once described Dick Cheney as the ‘maestro of terror.’ Now, she sits proudly next to Anthony Fauci and James Carville at his funeral”—garnered 9,000+ likes and 2,000 reposts, amplified by Elon Musk’s “Deep state buddies” reply. Twitchy called it “Hypocrisy Level: Expert,” tying it to Cheney’s Harris nod.
Memes flooded feeds: Pigs flying (nodding to Glasser’s New Yorker quip), Coraline’s “Other Father” jabs at Maddow, and “enemy of my enemy” tropes. Conservative outlets like The Western Journal framed it as proof of a “DC/NYC regime” united against Trump.
Defenders pushed back. Some X users hailed it as maturity: “Time heals,” one wrote, while others mocked the outrage as performative. Hashtags like #CheneyFuneral and #MaddowAtCheney trended, with 15,000+ mentions by midday Friday.
- Top Reaction Posts:
- @MarioNawfal: “Cheney’s Funeral Turns Into Swamp Reunion” (12,000+ views, 90 likes).
- @elonmusk: “Birds of a feather” on a related thread (300+ likes).
- @WayneNation8: Ties it to “J6 hearings collusion” (media image, low engagement).
- Anti-Trump solidarity: “Very few there… to show solidarity against the Trump Train” (@jeromernrtp, 0 likes but pointed).
Political Symbolism: A Rejection of Trumpism?
Analysts see Maddow’s showing as emblematic of realignments. The Atlantic called it a sign of “Washington turned upside down,” where old foes unite against perceived threats. Cheney’s 2024 Harris endorsement, alongside Liz’s J6 role, cemented his anti-Trump bona fides—earning him Democratic grace, per Newsweek.
The Guardian highlighted ironies: Cheney expanded executive powers Trump now wields, yet his funeral excluded the incumbent. Vox and others noted it exposes GOP fractures, with “Never Trumpers” like the Cheneys finding common cause with liberals. One X post summed it: “Trump’s rise represented a rejection of… the old guard Republican Party of Bush and Cheney.”
Broader data: A 2025 Pew survey showed 65% of Republicans view Cheney unfavorably, up from 40% in 2016, tying to Trump loyalty. The funeral, then, mourned an era as much as a man.
Broader Reactions: From Praise to Outrage
Media responses varied. Fox News leaned into the “frenzy,” interviewing attendees who called it “shocking.” The New York Times framed it as “politics turned upside down,” with Maddow as family invitee. Progressive outlets like The Nation were muted, focusing on Iraq omissions.
On X, conservative fury dominated: “All of Satan’s disciples in one place,” per @DemokkkratsR. Liberals defended: @leftfielder decried “zionist cretins,” twisting the narrative. Elon Musk’s quips amplified the divide, with his “Birds of a feather” drawing 300 likes.
Maddow hasn’t commented publicly, but her silence amid the buzz speaks volumes in a polarized 2025.
In the end, Rachel Maddow’s attendance at Dick Cheney’s funeral crystallized the bizarre bedfellows of Trump-era politics—a liberal firebrand honoring a conservative icon, united by disdain for the man in the Oval Office. As social media rages on, it underscores a deeper truth: In divided times, shared enemies forge unlikely bonds, leaving the real frenzy for historians to unpack. (54 words)
For more on the Cheney funeral coverage, visit The New Yorker’s dispatch.