Legendary musician Sir Elton John made headlines this week with surprising praise for President Donald Trump.
John even said the president could soon secure a legacy as one of the greatest U.S. presidents in history… if his administration succeeds in the daunting task of eradicating HIV/AIDS.
In an interview with Variety published Tuesday, the 78-year-old singer discussed his decades-long fight against the disease through the Elton John AIDS Foundation. John said there needs to be bipartisan support in achieving this epic health accomplishment.
“The bipartisan thing makes common sense,” John said. “To see us come so far with the medical and scientific advances, and to think this is the only disease that can be completely cured in one’s lifetime. President Trump has maybe solved the peace problem. If he wants to go down as one of the greatest presidents in history… if he ended AIDS, that would really be a feather in his cap.”
John has maintained a cordial relationship with Trump over the years while not endorsing his politics. John has praised Trump’s support of his music and famously laughed when the president nicknamed North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un “Little Rocket Man” after one of John’s hit songs.
“I laughed, I thought that was brilliant,” John said in a 2024 interview about the nickname. “Donald’s always been a fan of mine, and he’s been to my concerts many, many times. So, I mean, I’ve always been friendly toward him, and I thank him for his support.”
The timing of John’s remarks is particularly noteworthy given recent tensions over HIV/AIDS funding.
The Trump administration sought to cut funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in July, though Senate Republicans later agreed to preserve the funding.
There have been genuine advances in HIV prevention under Trump’s watch. The FDA approved a new twice-yearly injection from Gilead Sciences in June that was nearly 100% effective in preventing HIV transmission in clinical trials. Trump also announced an initiative during his first term in 2019 with the goal of ending HIV by 2030.
“Elton John can rest assured that the Trump administration is robustly tackling the HIV/AIDS epidemic both at home and abroad. The State Department is working directly with foreign governments to implement a global health strategy to streamline America’s foreign assistance and modernize our approach to countering infectious diseases like HIV,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said.
John has been a tireless advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment since establishing his foundation in 1992.
Over the decades, John has worked with politicians across the political spectrum, including South Carolina’s Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, to advance the cause.