Trump reaffirms commitment to end HIV/AIDS in 10 years

President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to end HIV/AIDS in 10 years in a tweet Sunday.

The president’s tweet on World AIDS Day said the program to end AIDS in 10 years that he announced in February has begun. 

“On World AIDS Day, The First Lady and I express our support for those living with HIV/AIDS and mourn the lives lost. We reaffirm our commitment to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America, community by community where we will eradicate AIDS in 10 years, program already started,” he tweeted.  “American leadership has proven that together we can save lives.”

On World AIDS Day, The First Lady and I express our support for those living with HIV/AIDS and mourn the lives lost. We reaffirm our commitment to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2019

The president’s tweet followed an attack from the Democratic National Committee in a release that said the Trump administration policies are damaging those living with HIV. 

The statement said the White House has suggested cutting global HIV-prevention programs and condemned programs, like the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Planned Parenthood, that support those with HIV.

“This president is no ally of people living with HIV, who are disproportionately LGBTQ and people of color,” DNC Chairman Tom Perez, DNC Disability Council Chairman Tony Coelho, and DNC LGBTQ Caucus Chairman Earl Fowlkes said in joint statement Sunday.

{mosads}White House spokesperson Judd Deere argued against the DNC’s comments Sunday saying Trump and his administration are “supporting those living with HIV and AIDS.”

“It was this President who boldly declared in his 2019 State of the Union Address that we are going to end HIV transmissions in the United States within 10 years – a commitment that when achieved will save LGBT lives across the country,” Deere said. “It’s no surprise that the DNC would attack this President and ignore the facts on World AIDS Day instead of honoring and remembering those we have lost.” 

The plan announced during the State of the Union aims to cut new HIV infections by 75 percent in five years and 90 percent by 2020.