Elton John warns Trump’s USAID cuts will have “devastating effects” on HIV response funding

Elton John has warned that Donald Trump’s cuts to the USAID budget will have “devastating effects” on the global response to HIV.

The US president announced on Thursday (February 27) that his administration intends to wipe out more than 90 per cent of the US Agency for International Development’s foreign aid contracts, with Associated Press projecting that $60billion (£48billion) of US global aid spending to be axed.

Writing on Instagram on Saturday (March 1), John, whose Elton John AIDS Foundation is one of the world’s leading independent AIDS/HIV charities, said the “abrupt decision” could have “devastating effects on the HIV response”.

A statement from the Foundation read: “We are gravely concerned about the decision by the U.S. Administration to cut more than 90% of contracts held by USAID, many of which they had already deemed “lifesaving”. This abrupt action could have devastating effects on the HIV response and put years of progress in jeopardy”.

“Millions of people are alive today thanks to the generosity of the American people and because of effective programs like PEPFAR. Today they are unsure of when, or even if they will get the medicine they need to stay alive.”

PEPFAR is the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, established by George W. Bush in 2003. It provides access to antiretroviral treatment, which helps people living with HIV to manage the virus and stay alive.

“The Elton John AIDS Foundation is working with our 90+ partners to ensure they can continue to provide lifesaving HIV services, and we are launching an urgent appeal, The Rocket Response Fund, to help cover immediate gaps in essential care,” the statement added.

John has previously been cautious about giving a clear comment on Trump, although before the 2024 election, he did say: “I just want people to vote for things that are just, things that are important to people: the right to choose, the right to be who you are, and not let anybody else tell you who to be. And that goes all the way up to the Supreme Court.”

“I just hope that people make the right decision to see what the future is going to be,” he added. “Is it going to be fire and brimstone … or are we going to have a much calmer, a much safer place? People can vote for who they like, but as far as I’m concerned, I love love. And I’m a loving person, and I want that to come back to America. I feel it’s been lost in the last 12 years.”

He did, however, say that he thought Trump referring to Kim Jong Un as “little rocket man” was “brilliant”.

Trump’s explosive press conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday (February 28) has prompted widespread condemnation, with Jack White describing Zelenskyy as “a very courageous man who deserves the support of the world”. Rod Stewart also weighed in on the clash, stressing that “we must keep supporting the Ukrainians”.