Khloe Kardashian took to her Instagram Story on Saturday to commend President Joe Biden for recognizing the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
The 36-year-old reality television personality thanked the nation’s leader for his bold move in formally referring to the mass killing as a genocide.
Biden is the first U.S. leader to use the term to describe the massacre, as past presidents shied away from labeling the event as such in an effort to maintain amicable relations with Turkey.
Speaking out: Khloe Kardashian took to her Instagram Story on Saturday to thank President Joe Biden for officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide; she is pictured in January of 2020
Kardashian began her message by writing: ‘In 1915, over 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered and tortured. Thank you President Biden for recognizing the genocide that happened 106 years ago.’
The social media powerhouse specifically thanked the president for ‘honoring the stories, the pain, suffering and loss.’
She also shared two shots from her 2015 visit to Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan, with her older sister, Kim.
On Saturday, the 78-year-old issued a statement where he laid out his thoughts on the matter and asked the American people to join him in working to ensure that such an event never happens again.
Making it clear: On Saturday, the 78-year-old politician released an official statement where he referred to the events of 1915 as a genocide; he is seen earlier this month
Sending a message: In her Story post, the social media personality thanked President Biden for ‘honoring the stories, the pain, suffering and loss of the Armenian people.’
Biden’s release began with: ‘Each year on this day, we remember the lives of all those who died in the Ottoman-era Armenian genocide and recommit ourselves to preventing such an atrocity from ever again occurring.’
The politician noted that the recognition was made ‘so that we remain ever-vigilant against the corrosive influence of hate in all its forms.’
The leader also noted that, regarding the family members of those affected, ‘we honor their story. We see that pain. We affirm the history. We do this not to cast blame but to ensure that what happened is never repeated.’
Biden’s statement’s concluded with: ‘Let us renew our shared resolve to prevent future atrocities from occurring anywhere in the world. And let us pursue healing and reconciliation for all the people of the world.’
Purpose: In his statement, Biden noted that the release was published in an effort to ‘recommit ourselves to preventing such an atrocity from ever again occurring’
Not mincing words: The politician also noted that the statement was made ‘not to cast blame but to ensure that what happened is never repeated’
Kardashian has supported the recognizance of the Armenian Genocide in the past and has worked to raise awareness for the cause.
In 2015, the social media personality and her sister Kim flew to Armenia and visited Tsitsernakaberd, the memorial to the victims of the atrocity.
In October of last year, she publicly denounced Azerbajian’s involvement in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and spoke out in support of the Republic of Artsakh.
The reality television star later appeared on a telethon for Armenia Fund and encouraged her followers to donate in support of Armenian soldiers involved in the conflict.
Making a difference: Kardashian has advocated for Armenian-related causes in the past, most recently during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War; she is pictured in 2019
Shortly after her shared visit to Tsitsernakaberd, Khloe’s older sister wrote an opinion piece for Time and noted that she had hoped that former president Barack Obama would have referred to the events of 1915 as a genocide.
‘It’s very disappointing he hasn’t used it as President. We thought it was going to happen this year. I feel like we’re close—but we’re definitely moving in the right direction,’ she expressed.
The reality television star also called on the government and citizens of Turkey to confront the events of the past in an effort to begin a period of reconciliation.
‘I think if they recognize it and acknowledge it, everyone can move on. I believe in moving on and looking toward a brighter future, but you can’t move on unless you acknowledge the past. To not do so is an act of disrespect,’ she wrote.
Purpose: After her 2015 visit to Armenia, Kim Kardashian wrote a piece for Time where she referred to the denial of the Armenian Genocide as an ‘act of disrespect’; she is seen in 2017