The ANCA has no record of statements or comments by Donald Trump on Armenian American concerns.  There are reports, however, that Trump’s corporation does business with Azerbaijani oligarchs who lobby against Armenian American priorities.

Despite voting for Armenian Genocide legislation (H.Con.Res.195 and H.Res.316) in the House Foreign Affairs Committee in 2005, Vice-Presidential nominee, Gov. Mike Pence, voted against Armenian Genocide legislation in 2007 and 2010 during consideration in that same committee – in both cases reaffirming the Armenian Genocide, but expressing concerns about its effects on U.S. – Turkey relations.

Watch his remarks during the 2010 Committee vote here.

Flip-Flopping on the Armenian Genocide:  In April, 2015, Newsweek published an extensive report about Hillary Clinton’s changes in position on the Armenian Genocide – highlighting her support for Armenian Genocide legislation as Senator and later her questioning of the historical truth of the Genocide in Secretary of State.  Documentation of her various positions, in chronological order, is provided below.

107th Congress (2001-2002) – Cosponsor of S. Res. 307 – A resolution reaffirming support of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and anticipating the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) on November 4, 2003.

108th Congress (2003-2004) – Cosponsor of S. Res. 164 – A resolution reaffirming support of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and anticipating the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) on November 4, 2003.

109th Congress (2005-2006) – Cosponsor of S. Res. 320 – A resolution calling on the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide.

109th Congress (2005-2006) – Signed April 2005 letter to President Bush urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

109th Congress (2005-2006) – Signed April 2006 letter to President Bush urging him to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

110th Congress (2007-2008) – Cosponsor of S. Res. 106 – A resolution calling on the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide.

January 2008 – Issued campaign statement during presidential run.

October 2008 – Offered Remarks at a Turkish Cultural Center of New York banquet where Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan was present.

October 10, 2009 – As Secretary of State, spearheaded U.S. leadership for the failed Turkey-Armenia Protocols, signed on October 10, 2009 in Zurich Switzerland.  In June, 2014, Clinton would reminisce about the experience in her memoire, Hard Choices, relevant sections of which are spotlighted in this Asbarez News article by Ara Khachatourian.

July 5, 2010 – As Secretary of State, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, Armenia – stating that it was only in a “private capacity.”

January 2012 – During Town Hall meeting with State Department staff, Secretary Clinton referred to the Armenian Genocide as matter for “historical debate.”

February 27, 2012 – Over 60 Members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary Clinton rebuking her claim that the Armenian Genocide is a matter for “historical debate.”

Senator Kaine has been largely supportive of Armenian issues – including Armenian Genocide recognition – since his days as mayor of Richmond and in Virginia state government. As Governor of the Commonwealth he formally commemorated the Armenian Genocide in 2009.

A notable departure from this traditional support occurred in April of 2014, when, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he worked to strip out mention of Turkey from the Armenian Genocide Resolution, S.Res.410, offered by Senator Bob Menendez. Once revised along the lines he sought, he voted in favor of the amended text. It was adopted 12 to 5.

Here are Sen. Kaine’s remarks:

SENATOR KAINE. Mr. Chair, I just want to thank you for working with me on the amendments. I wanted to make sure it was about the recognition of the historical fact and not — could not be construed as trying to engage in a foreign policy as essentially between Armenia and the Republic of Turkey. But the fact of the Ottoman’s Empire’s genocide against Armenia in 1915 is where — our ambassador to the United Nations has written a book about it. We confirmed her because of her passionate advocacy about this issue and others. But I appreciate you working with us on the amendments.

Yes votes on S.Res.140 were Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), John McCain (R-AZ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Tom Udall (D-NM). Those opposing the measure were Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Bob Corker (R-TN), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Risch (R-ID). Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) did not vote.

He is not a cosponsor of the current Armenian Genocide Resolution, S.Res.140.

Please take a moment to review Senator Kaine’s 2014 ANCA Report Card and his record during the 2015-2016 Senate session.