A politically charged and notably awkward reunion unfolded on Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral, as Vice President Kamala Harris and former First Lady Jill Biden were seated side-by-side for the funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney. This was their first encounter since the publication of Harris's campaign memoir, 107 Days, which contained pointed criticisms of the Biden family.
A Tense Gathering in the Cathedral
The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension as the service began. Cameras captured Dr. Biden pursing her lips as Vice President Harris approached and greeted her husband, former President Joe Biden, who was coincidentally celebrating his 83rd birthday. Their initial exchange appeared to be cut short by the arrival of former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, with Bush scheduled to deliver a eulogy.
Protocol strictly dictated the seating arrangements in the front pew, forcing a lineup of political heavyweights. From left to right, the row featured former President George W. Bush, Laura Bush, President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Vice President Mike Pence. Notably absent was Harris's husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who skipped the event and thus the uncomfortable encounter.
The Lingering Shadow of a Political Tell-All
The source of the day's tension was Harris's book, released in September 2024. In it, she did not shy away from detailing intimate and critical conversations involving the Bidens. One particularly incendiary anecdote recalled how Jill Biden allegedly 'demanded' of Doug Emhoff at a White House Fourth of July event: 'Are you supporting us?' This conversation, which took place shortly after President Biden's widely panned debate performance against Donald Trump, was described as having enraged Emhoff.
Harris quoted her husband's furious reaction in the book, writing: 'They hide you away for four years, give you impossible, shit jobs, don’t correct the record when those tasks are mischaracterised, never fight back when you’re attacked, never praise your accomplishments, and now, finally, they want you out there on that balcony, standing right beside them. Now, finally, they know you are an asset, and they need you to reassure the American people. And still, they have to ask if we’re loyal.'
Bipartisan Tributes and Notable Absences
Despite the personal drama, the funeral served as a moment of bipartisan gathering. Harris was seen sharing a warm hug with Karen Pence and conversing amiably with former Vice President Mike Pence before he took his seat. She also engaged in animated discussions with other former vice presidents, including Dan Quayle and Al Gore.
The service honoured Dick Cheney, a figure who had crossed the political aisle in his final year by endorsing Harris's bid for the White House. In a statement from September 2024, Cheney had declared Donald Trump a 'greater threat to our republic' than any other individual, citing his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In a final political statement, the Cheney family did not extend an invitation to Trump or his Vice President, JD Vance.
The event drew a who's who of Washington, from former House Speakers Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner to Trump ally Senator Lindsey Graham and potential 2028 Democratic contender Jamie Raskin. While all living former vice presidents attended, as is tradition, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were absent, a common occurrence for vice presidential funerals as neither held the role.
