Armenian Council of America and Armenian National Committee of America condemn Trump’s statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day for avoiding explicit recognition

WASHINGTON, D.C. — US President Donald Trump released a statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, referring to the events of 1915 as one of the most egregious atrocities of the 20th century. While expressing solidarity with the Armenian community globally, Trump avoided explicitly labeling the massacres as genocide, drawing sharp criticism from advocacy groups.

Trump praised the historical ties between the US and the Armenian people, highlighting the humanitarian contributions of the US Committee for Armenian and Assyrian Relief since 1915. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting religious freedoms and supporting vulnerable minorities while promoting strategic relations with Armenia for regional stability and prosperity.

The Armenian Council of America (ACA), however, condemned Trump’s statement as a “complete failure” for its lack of direct acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. The Council described the omission as deeply disappointing, arguing that it emboldens regimes such as Azerbaijan to perpetuate aggression without accountability.

Sevak Khatchadorian, Chairman of the ACA, expressed concern over Trump’s refusal to explicitly recognize the genocide, especially in light of President Biden’s historic acknowledgment during his tenure. “This retreat from truth undermines justice and signals that historical revisionism is acceptable,” Khatchadorian stated, adding that it perpetuates the ongoing injustice of genocide denial.

The Council further criticized Trump for what it called a troubling pattern of evasion and silence, accusing him of missing a crucial opportunity to uphold historical truth and justice. Khatchadorian contrasted Trump’s approach with Biden’s, commending the latter’s moral leadership in addressing the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) also strongly criticized President Trump for failing to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, condemning the omission as a capitulation to Turkish pressure and accusing Trump of abandoning the US’s historical responsibility to acknowledge and prevent genocide.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian highlighted the broader context of Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Artsakh, abuses of prisoners, and destruction of Christian heritage, arguing that Trump’s refusal to use the term genocide enables ongoing anti-Armenian aggression. The organization emphasized that such silence contradicts Trump’s earlier campaign promise to promote peace in the South Caucasus and prevent violence against Armenians.

Hamparian further characterized Trump’s omission as a deliberate retreat from historical truth, reflecting a dangerous tolerance for ongoing violence against Armenians. The ANCA criticized Trump’s prior administration for its silence on the Armenian Genocide and for providing military assistance to Azerbaijan, which allegedly facilitated the 2020 and 2023 genocidal campaigns against Armenians in Artsakh.

By failing to hold Azerbaijan accountable for documented war crimes, Trump’s actions were seen as laying the groundwork for further ethnic cleansing. The ANCA urged President Trump to fulfill his campaign commitments by resetting US policy in the region, actively combating genocide denial, holding perpetrators accountable, and promoting justice and the rights of displaced Armenians.