Madonna condemns Trump order halting World AIDS Day recognition

Madonna is criticizing President Donald Trump after his administration instructed federal agencies not to observe World AIDS Day this year. Public health expert Emily Bass recently shared a State Department email stating that staff should avoid using government channels or resources to acknowledge the annual event. The email described the directive as part of a broader policy discouraging official recognition of commemorative days.

In an Instagram post on Monday, Madonna called the decision “ridiculous” and highlighted the significant human toll of the HIV/AIDS crisis. She noted that for more than 40 years, people worldwide have recognized World AIDS Day to honor millions affected by the disease, which still has no cure. The singer wrote about the emotional weight of losing loved ones to AIDS, recalling the experience of watching a close friend die at a young age.

Madonna argued that asking federal employees to ignore the day was troubling, but suggesting the public should do the same was “absurd” and “unthinkable.” She emphasized that countless families continue to lose partners, friends and relatives, adding that she refuses to let their deaths be forgotten. She reaffirmed her commitment to honoring World AIDS Day and encouraged others to do the same.

A spokesperson for the Trump administration defended the policy, telling The New York Times that “an awareness day is not a strategy.” The move follows significant cuts to foreign aid and public health funding, which have disrupted HIV treatment programs abroad and reduced resources for scientific research.

According to federal data, roughly 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV or AIDS.