JD Vance buried in ridicule after 'beyond disrespectful' social media gaffe
Vice President JD Vance left critics aghast Tuesday as his team hastily scrubbed a social media post in which he called the 1915 Armenian massacres a "genocide," claiming it was posted "in error" by overzealous staff.
The awkward delete came after Vance and his wife, Usha, laid wreaths at the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan. Vance's official X account described the visit as meant to "honor the victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide." The post mysteriously vanished shortly thereafter, and a Vance spokesperson insisted the account was "managed by staff," blaming the gaffe on workers who weren't traveling with the delegation.
Alex Galitsky of the Armenian National Committee of America called Vance a "coward" for deleting the post, and social media critics piled on to the vice president.
Journalist Mark Chadbourn wrote on Bluesky, "Vance once again showed the amateur hour performance of the Trump admin when he caused an international incident just by turning up. He laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Memorial and posted about it, thus massively p---ing off the Turks. Then he deleted the post and p---ed off the Armenians."
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) wrote on Bluesky, "The Armenian Genocide is a historical fact. Vice President Vance can delete his post, but he can't erase history. His decision to ignore the facts is beyond disrespectful to the Armenian community and the millions killed in the Armenian Genocide."
Writer Adam Serwer questioned sarcastically on Bluesky, "What's the point of being a christian nationalist edgelord if you're gonna do this?"
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) wrote on Bluesky, "The Armenian Genocide is a fact. I helped lead a bipartisan coalition calling for U.S. recognition, which President Biden finally did in 2021. By deleting this post, Vance & Trump are showing that they care more about their authoritarian buddies than the truth. Disgusting and pathetic."
Comedian James Adomian wrote on Bluesky, "JD Vance visited the Armenian genocide memorial in Yerevan, accurately called it that in a post, then under orders from the Turks and the Heritage Foundation he deleted the post in two hours and replaced without the word 'genocide' - the fascist police states always line up.
Climate and anti-war activist Arshak Makichyan wrote on Bluesky, "Vance deleted this after two hours. Apparently, commemoration of the victims of the Armenian G* lasts only as long as it does not upset Turkish partners."