Madonna has criticized Donald Trump on Instagram as she commemorated World AIDS Day, which took place on Monday, December 1st. This day has been observed internationally for decades to highlight the impact of the HIV crisis, which has affected countless lives.
AIDS was first identified in 1981 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with HIV, the virus causing AIDS, being identified in 1983. AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is the advanced stage of HIV where the immune system is severely compromised.
Despite the devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s, new cases continue to emerge, highlighting the significance of days like World AIDS Day. Madonna, a longstanding advocate for AIDS/HIV awareness, used her platform on Instagram to both raise awareness and address President Trump directly.
“Today is World AIDS Day. For four decades, this day has been internationally recognized around the world by people from all walks of life, because millions of people’s lives have been touched by the HIV crisis,” Madonna wrote. She expressed her disapproval of Trump’s stance by stating, “Donald Trump has announced that World AIDS Day should no longer be acknowledged.”
According to The New York Times, the US State Department recently instructed its employees not to use federal funding to observe the day. The government policy now advises against messaging on any commemorative days.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott mentioned to The New York Times: “An awareness day is not a strategy. Under the leadership of President Trump, the State Department is working directly with foreign governments to save lives and increase their responsibility and burden sharing.”
However, the US has significantly reduced its funding for global HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.
The United Nations’ AIDS prevention program, UNAIDS, warns that an estimated 3.3 million additional HIV cases could arise in the next five years. This is partly due to the decrease in funding, which is 30-40 percent lower than it was in 2023.
In January, Trump cut US overseas aid, leading to substantial reductions in foreign aid. Other countries have also decreased their overseas aid spending. This has resulted in a considerable decline in the number of people accessing HIV prevention medication like PrEP, with significant reductions in Burundi and Uganda. Additionally, many women-led HIV organizations have either lost funding or shut down.
Madonna shared her personal experiences with loss from AIDS in her Instagram post. She wrote, “I bet [Trump’s] never watched his best friend die of AIDS, held their hand, and watched the blood drain from their face as they took their last breath at the age of 23.”
She also noted the extensive list of individuals she has known and lost to AIDS, a sentiment she believes others can relate to.
While Trump’s mentor Roy Cohn succumbed to AIDS complications in 1986, the topic continues to affect lives worldwide. Madonna concluded her post with a powerful message, emphasizing the ongoing crisis. “Let me say it one more time – there still isn’t a cure for AIDS and people still die from it. I refuse to acknowledge that these people have died in vain. And I will continue to honor World AIDS Day, and I hope you will honor it with me.”