April 29, 2025, 11:36 a.m. ET
In a notable change of stance, the Trump administration has relaxed a previously imposed ban on U.S. diplomats participating in the commemorations for the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War's conclusion. This decision was made public when the U.S. consul general, Susan Burns, was seen at a reception alongside other diplomats and Vietnamese dignitaries in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday evening.
The attendance of Burns highlights a significant shift from earlier policies that drew criticism from Vietnam veterans. Although Marc E. Knapper, the U.S. ambassador with personal ties to the war as the son of a Vietnam veteran, did not accompany Burns to the reception, his planned absence for the anniversary events raised eyebrows. Knapper is also expected to miss the main festivities scheduled for Wednesday, which mark the surrender of South Vietnam and the U.S. evacuation from Saigon on April 30, 1975.
While some advocates for veterans welcomed the consul general's attendance, they expressed that it falls short of meaningful diplomatic change. Critics maintain that the administration has demonstrated a lack of appreciation for the significance of healing and reconciliation in the U.S.-Vietnam relationship, particularly as both nations work together to confront China's growing influence in the region.
John Terzano, co-founder of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, voiced his disappointment, stating that the administration seems out of touch with the complexities of postwar dynamics. He’s been actively returning to Vietnam since the early 1980s, underscoring the importance of recognizing and addressing the historical context of U.S.-Vietnam relations.
In a notable change of stance, the Trump administration has relaxed a previously imposed ban on U.S. diplomats participating in the commemorations for the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War's conclusion. This decision was made public when the U.S. consul general, Susan Burns, was seen at a reception alongside other diplomats and Vietnamese dignitaries in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday evening.
The attendance of Burns highlights a significant shift from earlier policies that drew criticism from Vietnam veterans. Although Marc E. Knapper, the U.S. ambassador with personal ties to the war as the son of a Vietnam veteran, did not accompany Burns to the reception, his planned absence for the anniversary events raised eyebrows. Knapper is also expected to miss the main festivities scheduled for Wednesday, which mark the surrender of South Vietnam and the U.S. evacuation from Saigon on April 30, 1975.
While some advocates for veterans welcomed the consul general's attendance, they expressed that it falls short of meaningful diplomatic change. Critics maintain that the administration has demonstrated a lack of appreciation for the significance of healing and reconciliation in the U.S.-Vietnam relationship, particularly as both nations work together to confront China's growing influence in the region.
John Terzano, co-founder of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, voiced his disappointment, stating that the administration seems out of touch with the complexities of postwar dynamics. He’s been actively returning to Vietnam since the early 1980s, underscoring the importance of recognizing and addressing the historical context of U.S.-Vietnam relations.
