US President Joe Biden has said Bono played a “pivotal role” building support for the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty – as the U2 star said he was “honoured” to be among the special guests at his State of the Union address.
The Dubliner sat next to Paul Pelosi, husband of Nancy and was seriously injured when an intruder attacked him in their home last year, and 26-year-old Brandon Tsay, who heroically disarmed the gunman who carried out the shooting in Monterey Park in California on January 21, which killed 11 people.
In a statement, The White House noted that Bono was honoured with an invitation in recognition of his work as "a groundbreaking activist in the fight against HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty."
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"Working in concert with other activists, he played a pivotal role building public and bipartisan political support for the creation of PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), a program announced by President Bush in his State of the Union twenty years ago, and championed by then-Senator Biden," the statement continues.
"PEPFAR is credited with revolutionising the provision of life-saving HIV medications in poorer countries and saving 25 million lives worldwide. Bono is the cofounder of the nonpartisan ONE Campaign, which works with governments to fight poverty and preventable disease, and (RED), which has raised more than $700 million from businesses to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa."
Bono tweeted that he was “honoured” to be in attendance.
He wrote: “If you’re an American, you’re an AIDS activist. 25 million lives saved in 20 years thx (thanks) to bipartisan support for @PEPFARA and courageous Africa healthcare workers.
“Honoured to join ~FLOTUS tonight on behalf of @ONECampaign.
“Thank you @POTUS for fighting to ~endAIDS.”
In addition to Bono, RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, the mother and stepfather of Tyre Nichols – who was brutally killed by police in Memphis, Tennessee, earlier this year – were also in attendance. The Wells were given a standing ovation during the address, in what was described by Washington D.C. publication The Hill as "one of the most bipartisan and dramatic moments of the night."
Other guests included Kate Foley, a high school student; Paul Sarzoza, a small business owner; Amanda Zurawski, who nearly died due to complications caused by the Texas abortion ban; Harry Miller, student-athlete turned mental health advocate; Doug Griffin, who lost his daughter to a fentanyl overdose; Ruth Cohen, a survivor of the Holocaust; and more.
The State of the Union Address is an annual speech delivered by the president of the U.S. at the beginning of the year – in which the most crucial issues currently facing the nation are addressed.
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