Why Dick Cheney branded Donald Trump a 'coward' ahead of his death aged 84

Former Vice President Dick Cheney branded Donald Trump a 'coward' and the country's greatest 'threat' before his death aged 84.

Cheney served as the 46th US vice president under Republican President George W. Bush between 2001 and 2009.

After the 9/11 terror attacks shook America, it was Cheney who initially stepped in to take charge while President Bush was away from Washington.

He died on Monday (November 3), from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family confirmed in a statement.

Cheney was surrounded by his wife, Lynne, and two daughters, Liz and Mary, when he passed.

"For decades, Dick Cheney served our nation, including as White House Chief of Staff, Wyoming's Congressman, Secretary of Defense, and Vice President of the United States," the family's statement continued.

Dick Cheney served as vice president under George W. Bush (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

"Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing. We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country.

"And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man."

Cheney largely stepped away from elected office but remained an influential and outspoken figure in US politics after his stint as vice president, especially on national security and foreign policy.

He underwent a heart transplant in 2012 that he later hailed 'the gift of life himself'.

Cheney was outspoken in his criticism of Donald Trump (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

In his later years, however, Cheney found himself pushed to the sidelines of the Republican party after publicly criticizing President Donald Trump.

He had supported Trump in 2016, despite him criticizing Bush-Cheney foreign policies.

But Trump's refusal to accept his 2020 election defeat and the consequent January 6 Capitol riots saw Cheney snap.

In a 2022 advert for his politician daughter Liz, Cheney directly addressed the camera for the first time in years and didn't mince his words when it came to Trump.

Cheney and his daughter Liz (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

"In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump," he said.

"He is a coward. A real man wouldn’t lie to his supporters. He lost his election, and he lost big. I know it. He knows it, and deep down, I think most Republicans know," he continued.

In what would be his final presidential election vote, Cheney deviated from the Republicans and instead voted for Democrat candidate Kamala Harris.

"As citizens, we each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution. That is why I will be casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris," he said in his daughter's TV advert.