ANCA condemns Trump’s failure to recognize the Armenian Genocide, calls for U.S. policy reset

(Horizon Media / WASHINGTON, DC) — The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has strongly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump for once again failing to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide in the White House’s annual April 24 statement, marking the 111th anniversary of the crime.

In a sharply worded statement, ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian denounced the president’s continued retreat from U.S. recognition and remembrance, stressing that this marks the sixth time Trump has deliberately avoided using the term “genocide” in official commemorative remarks.

The organization stated that the administration’s position reflects ongoing deference to Turkish pressure, despite longstanding recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. Congress, all 50 states, and previous administrations. It further stated that current U.S. policy is enabling broader regional dynamics that continue to endanger Armenians.

ANCA also pointed to a February 2026 incident involving U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan. A social media post referencing the Armenian Genocide was subsequently edited to remove the term, a move ANCA condemned as a concession to Turkish pressure.

The organization contrasted Trump’s position with that of former President Joe Biden, who formally recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2021 and maintained that recognition throughout his administration. It also referenced earlier acknowledgments, including a 1951 U.S. submission to the International Court of Justice and a 1981 statement by President Ronald Reagan.

Beyond historical recognition, ANCA linked the issue to recent regional developments, citing Azerbaijan’s 2023 military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), which resulted in the mass displacement of its Armenian population. The organization stated that these actions form part of an ongoing pattern of anti-Armenian policies, including the destruction of cultural heritage and the abuse of prisoners of war.

ANCA renewed its call for a fundamental reset in U.S. policy toward Turkey and the South Caucasus, urging the administration to end what it described as complicity in genocide denial, ensure accountability, and uphold the rights and security of Armenians in the region, including the right of return for displaced populations from Artsakh.

April 24, 2026, marks the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, during which 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.