Madonna goes to battle with Donald Trump for attempting to kill off World AIDS Day
Madonna has criticised Donald Trump’s decision to end America’s official acknowledgement of the global day of remembrance and awareness over AIDS
Madonna is at war with Donald Trump for trying to stamp out recognition of World AIDS Day.
The Material Girl, 67, launched a tirade at the Orange Manbaby, 79, by telling of her horror at watching pals die from the disease.
She fumed: “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.” Her rant came after US President Trump, 79, moved to end America’s official acknowledgement of the global day of remembrance and awareness over AIDS, which has been recognised every year since 1988.
Veteran LGBTQ+ ally Madonna unleashed her fury over the decision on Instagram. She accompanied her rant with a black-and-white video and string of text slides, slamming Trump’s directive as “ridiculous”, “unthinkable” and absurd.
Mum-of-six Madge – born Madonna Louise Ciccone – added in her outburst on Monday (December 1): “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.
“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.”
The Queen of Pop vowed to continue honouring the day and urged her fans to join her. She added: “I will continue to honour World AIDS Day, and I hope you will honour it with me.”
Trump’s move marks the first time in 36 years the US government has pulled back from publicly recognising World AIDS Day. Federal employees can still attend events linked to the commemoration and speak about ongoing health programs.
But Trump’s administration has now barred them from outward participation or messaging tied to the December 1 tribute. A leaked internal memo from the right-winger’s regime told government staff they should “refrain” from “messaging on any commemorative days, including World AIDS Day”.
Madonna has previously gone head-to-head with Trump. She hit out at his administration for “slowly dismantling” the “freedoms” of the LGBTQ+ community.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott bit back at the singer’s World AIDS Day tirade: “An awareness day is not a strategy. Under the leadership of President Trump, the State Department is working directly with foreign governments to save lives and increase their responsibility and burden sharing.”
Madonna has recalled holding her late best pal Martin Burgoyne’s hand as he was killed by AIDS. In 2006, she used a segment of her Confessions tour to flash up statistics about AIDS to her audiences next to a large crucifix.
Fans have backed her anti-Trump outburst, branding the president everything from a ‘bigot” to “Nazi”.
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