POLITICO: Trump’s State of the Union pledge: Ending HIV transmissions by 2030
“President Donald Trump plans to use Tuesday night’s State of the Union address to promise an end to the HIV epidemic in America, four individuals with knowledge of the planned remarks told POLITICO. Under Trump’s 10-year strategy, health officials would target the U.S. communities with the most HIV infections and work to reduce transmissions by 2030. The strategy has been championed by top health officials, including HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CDC Director Robert Redfield. … HHS has pressed the White House to ensure the HIV strategy is highlighted on Tuesday night, said two individuals. The agency is also planning a broader rollout this week. … The Trump administration has had an at times fraught relationship with the HIV/AIDS community. … Trump also repeatedly sought to cut the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, better known as PEPFAR … However, Trump in December 2018 signed an extension to the program that received bipartisan support…” (Diamond, 2/3).