LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Music icon and longtime AIDS activist Elton John has issued a powerful declaration: He’s ready to go “face to face” with Donald Trump in a battle to protect global AIDS relief funding.
During a candid Q&A session at the London Palladium on Wednesday, March 26, the 78-year-old legend made it clear that the future of HIV/AIDS programs is under threat—and he won’t back down.
Despite his commitment to diplomacy, John acknowledged the troubling uncertainty surrounding the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a critical initiative that has saved millions of lives since its inception in 2003.
“I cannot speak out about governments. I’m a diplomat,” John explained. “But if I stay silent, what happens to the AIDS money? What happens to PEPFAR?”
With millions depending on the program for life-saving medications, John made it clear that he’s willing to take the fight directly to the Trump administration.
A Legacy of Advocacy
Elton John has long been a champion for HIV/AIDS awareness, following in the footsteps of activists like the late Elizabeth Taylor. He has tirelessly lobbied governments worldwide, ensuring continued funding for vital treatment programs. But now, with PEPFAR’s future hanging in the balance, his advocacy is more urgent than ever.
“To be fair, every administration since George W. Bush has supported PEPFAR,” John admitted. “But things are looking shaky now. And if I have to fight for it, I will.”
Trump’s Cuts and the Global Fallout
The Trump administration has already implemented sweeping changes to foreign aid, and despite previous exemptions, PEPFAR is facing unprecedented challenges. Reports suggest that funding disruptions are wreaking havoc on supply chains, leaving HIV patients without medication and healthcare centers struggling to operate.
Doctors on the frontlines are warning of an impending crisis.
“PEPFAR is being dismantled, and many people will die as a result,” stated Matthew Loftus, a medical professional working in Kenya.
Some clinics have reportedly shut down entirely, forcing patients to pay out-of-pocket for antiretroviral drugs—or go without.
The United Nations has already raised the alarm, warning that if PEPFAR funding is not secured, the world could see a catastrophic 400% increase in AIDS-related deaths.
‘We Have to Play the Game’
While John refrained from openly criticizing Trump, he acknowledged the difficult balancing act required to keep funding alive.
“I have an AIDS foundation that depends on money, and I will go there and fight for it as much as I can,” he said. “But I cannot just say, ‘You’re an a**hole.’ You have to negotiate. You have to play the game.”
With millions of lives at stake, Elton John is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep PEPFAR—and the fight against AIDS—alive.
