The Ripple Effect: How Trump's Funding Cuts Impacted HIV-Positive Citizens in South Africa In 2017, the Trump administration announced significant cuts to U.S. funding for global health initiatives, including programs supporting HIV/AIDS treatment in South Africa. For a country that bears the world’s largest HIV burden, this decision sent shockwaves through its healthcare system. South Africa, home to over 7.5 million people living with HIV, has long relied on international aid to provide life-saving antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to its citizens. The funding cuts, particularly to programs like PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), have had dire consequences for HIV-positive individuals and the broader fight against the epidemic. Now, as the White House releases its 2025 briefings on global health, the long-term impacts of these cuts are coming into sharper focus. This article explores the immediate and long-term effects of these cuts, focusing on the impact on AR...