Madonna Slams Trump for Skipping World AIDS Day: ‘Absurd, Unthinkable’
Madonna has voiced strong criticism of President Donald Trump for not officially recognizing World AIDS Day this year.
On Monday, the singer used her Instagram account to honor the day and call out the administration for ignoring the global observance. According to her post, this is the first year since 1988 that the United States has not marked World AIDS Day.
“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. “People have lost lovers and husbands and wives and girlfriends and boyfriends and mothers and daughters and children to this deadly disease, of which there is still no cure.”
A longtime advocate for AIDS and HIV awareness, Madonna expressed deep disappointment over the lack of government acknowledgment. “Donald Trump has announced that World AIDS Day should no longer be acknowledged,” she wrote.
“It’s one thing to order federal agents to refrain from commemorating this day, but to ask the general public to pretend it never happened is ridiculous, it’s absurd, it’s unthinkable. 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 also reflected on her personal losses due to the disease. “The list of people that I have known and loved and lost to AIDS is pretty long. I’m sure many of you out there can relate. 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.”
Her message emphasizes the ongoing impact of AIDS and the importance of remembrance, even in the absence of official recognition.
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