Madonna harshly criticizes the Donald Trump administration for its decision to end the decades-long tradition and recognition of World AIDS Day.
According to New York TimesThe State Department requested that employees “refrain from publicly promoting World AIDS Day through any communication channels, including social media, media interactions, speeches, or other public communications.”
Yesterday, on International AIDS Day (December 1), the pop legend took to Instagram to criticize the government's decision to no longer recognize the day, calling it “absurd”, “ridiculous” and “unthinkable”. Further expressing her dissatisfaction with Trump and his administration, she wrote: “I bet he never saw his best friend die of AIDS, held their hand or watched the blood run down their face as they took their last breath at the age of 23.”
In a statement for NOWState Department Deputy Press Secretary Tommy Pigott rejected criticism of the Trump administration for eradicating the tradition: “Awareness Day is not a strategy. Under President Trump’s leadership, the State Department is working directly with foreign governments to save lives and increase their responsibility and burden-sharing.”
Another Madonna post said: “Today is World AIDS Day. For four decades, this day has been recognized around the world by people from all walks of life because the lives of millions of people have been affected by the HIV crisis. People have lost lovers, husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, mothers, daughters and children to this deadly disease for which there is still no cure.”
Madonna has long been an advocate for AIDS awareness, having previously lost loved ones to the disease, including her former roommate Martin Burgoyne, mentor Christopher Flynn and famed artist Keith Haring. During her first international tour, 1987's Who's That Girl World Tour, she raised $400,000 for the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).
