Madonna criticizes Trump's decision on World AIDS Day as 'Unthinkable'

Madonna has sharply criticized President Donald Trump for instructing federal employees and agencies to refrain from observing World AIDS Day this year. Last month, Emily Bass, a public health expert, shared a State Department email directing staff not to use official resources or communication channels to mark the day, which has been recognized since 1988, citing a wider policy to avoid messaging on any commemorative occasion.

In response, Madonna joined public health advocates and activists in expressing outrage through a Monday Instagram post, labeling the White Houses directive as ridiculous and emphasizing the human toll of the AIDS epidemic. She wrote, For forty years, this day has been internationally observed by people from all walks of life, because millions of lives have been affected by the HIV crisis. People have lost partners, family members, and children to this deadly disease, which still has no cure.

The singer, appearing at the 2025 Met Gala in May, directly criticized Trump, stating, Donald Trump has announced that World AIDS Day should no longer be recognized. Its one thing to instruct federal employees not to commemorate this day, but to expect the public to act as if it never existed is absurd and unimaginable.

Reflecting on personal loss, Madonna added, I doubt he has ever watched a close friend die of AIDS, held their hand, and seen life drain away at the age of 23. The people I have known and loved who have succumbed to AIDS are too many to count, and I know many of you share that grief.

She concluded her post by reaffirming her commitment to remembrance: Let me make it clear there is still no cure for AIDS, and people continue to die from it. I refuse to let their deaths be forgotten. I will continue to honor World AIDS Day, and I hope you will join me.

Trump administration officials defended the decision. State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott told The New York Times, An awareness day is not a strategy, emphasizing that the move aligns with broader policy priorities.

The choice to skip World AIDS Day coincides with significant cuts to foreign aid and public health funding, which have disrupted HIV/AIDS care overseas and limited crucial scientific research. Currently, approximately 1.2 million people in the United States live with an HIV or AIDS diagnosis.

Author: Sophia Brooks