In a recent gathering of MAHA enthusiasts in Washington, D.C., JD Vance took the opportunity to harshly criticize the late Vice President Dick Cheney. This event occurred just nine days following Cheney’s passing. Sitting down with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday, Vance voiced his opinions on the perceived inadequacies of former vice presidents, notably targeting Cheney and his immediate successor, Kamala Harris. While Kennedy expressed admiration for President Donald Trump’s Vice President, Vance was unrestrained in his criticism. Cheney, often regarded as the guiding force during George W. Bush’s administration, passed away on November 3, 2025, at the age of 84 due to complications from pneumonia and vascular disease.

Following Cheney’s death, President Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-mast but did not prioritize commemorating Cheney, the father of his political adversary, former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. convened a confidential summit with his allies and top health leaders in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. Vance, agreeing to participate only if it involved an on-stage interview instead of delivering a traditional speech, added a unique dimension to the event. Access to the summit was highly restricted, with only a select few reporters permitted to attend Vance’s remarks. One speaker at the event highlighted the ‘off-the-record’ nature of the proceedings, accentuating the exclusion of the media from this inaugural gathering.

The summit showcased the influence of the MAHA movement and the notable figures it attracts. Among the attendees was actor and MAHA supporter Russell Brand, who set the stage for Kennedy’s concluding remarks with what was described as an ‘eloquent rant.’ The event drew attention from various prominent individuals, including Republican Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, former CDC Director Robert Redfield, and former Trump communications official Katie Miller, who is married to White House Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller. The presence of such influential figures underscored the significance and reach of the MAHA movement.

‘You know, the job of the Vice President has been called the worst job in the country,’ Kennedy said during his ‘fireside chat’ with Vance. The vice president chucked before joking: ‘I think we’re out of time, ladies and gentlemen.’ ‘I think for some vice presidents that that’s been true,’ Kennedy continued. ‘But then you have vice presidents like Dick Cheney who seemed to be actually running the country and then you have these relationships…’

‘Not very well, by the way,’ Vance cut in with a big laugh, to which the Health and Human Services Secretary admitted: ‘We agree on that.’ He then said that Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore had a great relationship and asked how Vance would describe his relationship with the president and how it has evolved over time.

‘It’s interesting, you’re exactly right that the job of vice president is incredibly contingent on the president that you’re serving under, and you could have a president who effectively just passes off big slots of responsibility. You could have a president who delegates,’ Vance said. He then excoriated his predecessor and Trump enemy, former Vice President Kamala Harris.

‘You could have a president who has no trust in their vice president,’ he said before a fake cough and then: ‘Kamala Harris.’ ‘And so it doesn’t go very well for that particular vice president,’ Vance concluded. At the event on Wednesday, the vice president revealed that his wife was one of the ‘original MAHA people’ as he praised the movement for being integral to Trump’s successful second election. Second Lady Usha Vance, the VP explained at the inaugural Make American Healthy Again Summit, is very conscious about what she feeds their three young children.