The White House has sparked controversy by deleting a social media post from Vice President JD Vance that explicitly referred to the Armenian genocide. This incident occurred during Vance's two-day diplomatic visit to Armenia, marking the first time a sitting US vice president or president has traveled to the country.
Deleted Post During Memorial Visit
During his visit to Yerevan, Vance and his wife Usha Vance paid respects at a memorial commemorating the up to 1.5 million Armenians killed by Ottoman troops more than a century ago. The now-removed post on Vance's official Twitter/X account stated he was visiting the memorial to honor "the victims of the Armenian genocide." This represented a significant departure from previous Trump administration language regarding the historical events.
Administration Blames Staff Error
An aide to Vice President Vance later explained to reporters that the message had been posted in error by staff members who were not traveling with the vice president. This marks the second instance within a week where the administration has cited staff mistakes to explain controversial social media content. Last week, President Donald Trump similarly blamed an aide for posting a racist video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
During a joint press conference with Armenia's prime minister on Monday, Vance carefully avoided using the term "genocide" when discussing the historical atrocities. Instead, he described them as "a very terrible thing that happened a little over 100 years ago" in comments to reporters. Vance emphasized that his visit had been conducted at the request of the Armenian government and represented a "sign of respect" for both the victims and the local administration.
Historical Context of US Recognition
For decades, the United States government refrained from using the term "genocide" to describe the systematic killings of Armenians, primarily due to concerns about damaging relations with Turkey, a crucial regional ally and NATO member. Turkey has consistently contested the casualty figures and denied that the killings constituted a systematic campaign of extermination.
This longstanding policy changed under President Joe Biden, who in 2021 became the first US president to formally recognize the Armenian genocide. His official statement highlighted the 1.5 million Armenians who were "deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths in a campaign of extermination." This recognition reportedly led to a tense telephone conversation between Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Trump administration has since reverted to the previous diplomatic stance, with President Trump avoiding any mention of the word "genocide" when marking the annual April day of remembrance last year.
Outrage from Armenian Community and Politicians
The deletion of Vance's social media post has generated significant anger among members of the Armenian diaspora and opposition politicians across the United States. Alex Galitsky, policy director for the Armenian National Committee of America, a prominent advocacy organization, described Vance as "a coward for deleting this post" on social media. He characterized the removal as "an insult to the memory" of those who perished and "an affront" to a community that has long fought for historical recognition.
Aram Hamparian, director of the same organization, suggested that pressure from Ankara likely influenced the incident. "While it's no surprise to see Turkey still strong-arming global leaders to enforce its Armenian Genocide gag-rule," he wrote on social media, "it is deeply troubling to witness Vice President Vance – a man who loudly proclaims solidarity with Christian victims of persecution – display such weakness in the face of this foreign pressure."
The Armenian Assembly of America issued a statement calling for greater transparency from the administration. Co-chairs Talin Yacoubian and Oscar Tatosian declared, "We deserve better from our elected officials and call for a public explanation for the apparent flip-flop."
Political Backlash and Criticism
The administration's action has drawn sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers, including Congressman Jim McGovern, who described the deletion as "disgusting and pathetic." On social media, the Democratic representative added, "The Armenian Genocide is a fact. I helped lead a bipartisan coalition calling for US recognition, which President Biden finally did in 2021. By deleting this post, @VP & @POTUS show they care more about their authoritarian buddies than the truth."
This incident highlights the ongoing diplomatic balancing act the United States faces regarding historical recognition versus maintaining strategic alliances. The deleted post and subsequent reactions underscore the continued sensitivity surrounding the characterization of events that occurred more than a century ago, particularly as they intersect with contemporary geopolitical considerations and domestic political dynamics.
