Madonna has publicly condemned President Donald Trump following the administration’s unprecedented decision to cease official recognition of World AIDS Day, a global observance marking the impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis that has been honoured since 1988. In a social media post shared yesterday, she stressed the grave significance of the day and the ongoing tragedy of the epidemic, a crisis that has touched millions of lives worldwide over more than four decades.
The Grammy-winning artist recalled the profound personal losses she has endured due to AIDS, including the death of her best friend, underscoring the enduring human cost of the disease. ‘I bet he’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,’ Madonna wrote, emphasising the intimate and devastating impact of the epidemic. She lamented the administration’s directive for federal agents to refrain from commemorating World AIDS Day and decried the suggestion that the broader public should ‘pretend it never happened’ as ‘ridiculous,’ ‘absurd,’ and ‘unthinkable.’
Madonna’s longstanding activism around HIV/AIDS is well documented. Since the 1980s, she has wielded her platform to raise awareness and funds to fight the disease. Notably, she organised a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden in 1987 which raised approximately $400,000 for the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Her 1989 album Like A Prayer included educational pamphlets promoting HIV prevention and safe sex, while her 1991 album Erotica featured the track In This Life, dedicated to those lost to AIDS, including her close acquaintances Martin Burgoyne and Christopher Flynn. More recently, her 2023 Celebration Tour featured a touching performance of Live To Tell, a tribute to victims of the epidemic.
The cancellation of official recognition of World AIDS Day by the Trump administration marks the first absence of a government proclamation for the event since its inception in 1988. This move has stirred criticism and disbelief among activists, artists, and communities fiercely affected by the crisis. Madonna’s sharp rebuke reflects a wider outcry from those who see the decision as a step backwards in public health leadership and social responsibility.
Despite the government’s stance, Madonna affirmed her unwavering commitment to honouring World AIDS Day and urged others to do the same, reaffirming the necessity of remembrance and continued activism in the face of a disease that still has no cure. Her statement serves as a reminder of the epidemic’s ongoing relevance and the need for sustained solidarity and advocacy.
[Photo: Instagram]
Source: Noah Wire Services
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