Pelosi Slams Removal of Vance’s Armenian Genocide Post as ‘Erasing History’

Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has publicly criticized the deletion of a social media post by Vice President J.D. Vance that acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. Pelosi wrote:

“When I visited Armenia as Speaker in 2022, our Congressional delegation stood at Tsitsernakaberd and spoke clearly and unapologetically about the Armenian Genocide — because truth matters.

That truth was affirmed when the House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide in 2019, and when President Biden showed moral leadership by formally acknowledging it in 2021 — a position shamefully reversed by the Trump Administration.

It’s deeply disappointing, though not surprising, to see the Vice President delete a post acknowledging that truth. Erasing history dishonors the victims and weakens our commitment to human rights everywhere.”

Pelosi’s remarks came after Vance visited Armenia’s Genocide Memorial Complex at Tsitsernakaberd on February 10, one of the final public events of his official visit to the country. The visit itself included a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial alongside his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance.

Following the visit, a post on Vance’s official X account originally stated: “Today, Vice President Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance attended a wreath laying ceremony at the Armenian Genocide memorial to honor the victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide.” That post was later deleted and replaced with a message from his press secretary, which read: “@VP and @SLOTUS lay flowers at the eternal flame and sign the guest book on the final day of their visit to Armenia.” The revised post made no reference to the Armenian Genocide or the victims commemorated at Tsitsernakaberd.

The deletion of the original post sparked widespread criticism. Many viewed the omission of the term “Armenian Genocide” as a deeply disrespectful act toward the memory of the 1.5 million victims and their descendants. For Armenians worldwide, recognition of the genocide is a matter of historical truth, justice, and moral responsibility.

Vance’s staff later said the original post had been shared in error by team members who were not traveling on the vice president’s flight. A spokesperson stated: “This account is run by staff who mainly post photos and videos of the vice president. The vice president’s position on this issue can be found in his comments on the plane.”

The Armenian Genocide, in which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915, is widely recognized by historians as the first genocide of the 20th century. Despite historical evidence, Turkey continues to deny that the events constitute genocide, and its close ally Azerbaijan also refuses recognition. In the United States, President Joe Biden formally recognized the genocide in 2021, after decades of U.S. officials avoiding the term.

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