In a moment that captured the nation’s collective grief and introspection, ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir delivered a profoundly moving on-air tribute to former Vice President Dick Cheney following his passing on November 7, 2025, at age 84. The veteran journalist, known for his measured delivery amid turbulent headlines, paused during the broadcast to reflect on Cheney’s towering yet polarizing influence on American politics, his voice steady but laced with the solemnity of a figure who “shaped history, for better and for worse, with unwavering conviction.” The tribute, viewed by 8.2 million, resonated deeply, blending journalistic objectivity with personal reverence for a man whose life spanned from the Nixon era to the War on Terror, leaving an indelible mark on the republic.
Cheney, who served as vice president under George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, died peacefully at his Wyoming home after a long battle with heart disease, his family confirmed. Muir’s eulogy traced Cheney’s arc: from Wyoming congressman and White House chief of staff under Ford to Defense Secretary during the Gulf War, culminating in his VP tenure that defined post-9/11 America. “He was the architect of policies that kept us safe—and divided us deeply,” Muir said, alluding to the Iraq War, enhanced interrogation, and the Patriot Act, controversies that shadowed Cheney’s legacy like storm clouds over the Rockies.
Muir’s words struck a chord amid national mourning, with President Biden calling Cheney “a man of conviction” and Trump praising his “strength.” Yet, the tribute acknowledged the divide: Cheney’s 2024 endorsement of Kamala Harris over Trump, citing “democracy at stake,” had alienated MAGA allies. “He chose country over party,” Muir noted, his tone reflective. Colleagues like George Stephanopoulos lauded Muir’s balance: “David honored complexity—no easy answers.”
The broadcast featured archival clips: Cheney’s 2000 debate poise, 9/11’s grim resolve, and 2022’s Wyoming farewell. Muir closed: “In Cheney’s America, conviction was currency—spent boldly, often at great cost.” As flags flew half-mast, Muir’s tribute reminded us: Legacies aren’t monochrome; they’re the sum of storms weathered and paths forged.
