Twitter Claps Back At Trump Jr For HIV Stigma Comment

Donald Trump Jr. got some serious pushback on Twitter after a snarky response to a tweet from an LGBTQ news site regarding dating people with HIV. Responding to a tweet that read, “What you stand to lose by not having sex with people with HIV,” the junior Donald wrote, “Well I can think of one thing.” Junior didn’t expound on his intention in his comment, although it is surprising he follows LGBTQ news outlets on Twitter. But many felt his tweet furthered the stigma associated with people living with HIV. Ironically, the article in question, by writer David Hudson, explored exactly that kind of discrimination and stigma that affects those who are living with HIV. “If someone is HIV positive, knows their status, is on effective medication and has consistently had an undetectable viral load, they cannot pass on the virus,” Hudson shared in the piece. “PrEP is also widely available in the US and several other countries to prevent people from acquiring HIV. And condoms are also, of course, widely available.” As I’ve written many times here, current research shows there is no risk of transmitting the HIV virus to others when properly using antiretroviral medications to bring the viral load down to zero, aka ‘undetectable.’ The Centers for Disease Control has publicly announced its support for the campaign that states Undetectable = Untransmittable. Additionally, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and condoms greatly reduce the possibility of HIV infection. The Twitterverse criticized Trump Jr. for reinforcing outdated HIV stigma:

Well I can think of one thing. https://t.co/A34xY74OYc

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 23, 2019

I’m not going to retweet Donald Trump Jr’s trash opinions, but for the people in the back: You can have sex with an HIV+ person and not contract HIV. People who are undetectable cannot transmit HIV. Also, google PREP and condoms.

— Jake Dafoe (@jacob_dafoe) November 23, 2019

When the world has come so far in combatting stigma around HIV – and it now impossible to pass on HIV when one is on treatment – this comment is stunningly retrograde and dangerous https://t.co/FzdQ4b5Q4S

— Olivia Alabaster (@OliviaAlabaster) November 24, 2019

May your decisions in life meet you on the other side. You will not shame HIV positive folks and those who died you racist

— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) November 23, 2019

you pile of stale shit. Tweeting anti-science stigma flared nonsense just DAYS before World AIDS Day. I truly think there’s a special place in hell waiting for you.

— Jason Rosenberg (@mynameisjro) November 23, 2019

We’re days away from the 31st WORLD AIDS DAY and the President’s son is typing anti-science stigma inducing bull shit. There’s a special place in hell waiting for you junior. https://t.co/nbknNdApRB

— ACT UP NY (@actupny) November 23, 2019

Your comment is 100% part of the problem by strengthening Stigma which the entire world, the entire world, is rallying to destroy because it is literally possible, within our lifetime, to end HIV/AIDS. This ignorant drivel is all you have to offer? You’re on the wrong side.

— Javier Muñoz (@JMunozActor) November 23, 2019

HIV-positive men are twice as likely to die by suicide than members of the general population.@DonaldJTrumpJr, you are ADDING to the stigma of living with HIV with your IGNORANT comments. To quote the POPULAR winner of the 2016 election, “DEPLORABLE”.💔https://t.co/VNT6SeYmzC

— Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) November 24, 2019