- Music
- 20 Feb 17
The U2 frontman thanked the Vice President for defending PEPFAR - the US Government initative to prevent AIDS/HIV - on the White House floor.
Bono and Mike Pence had a brief meeting Saturday at the Munich Security Conference, according to Rolling Stone, with the U2 singer thanking the vice president for his past support of AIDS relief in Africa.
During their encounter, which came after Pence spoke at the conference, Bono acknowledged that Pence, while an Indiana congressman, helped get the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) passed in 2003 and then renewed in 2008.
"Twice on the House floor you defended that. That's how we know you, and we really appreciate that," Bono told Pence, who responded to Bono, "It was an extraordinary historic accomplishment and you played a leading role in carrying it forward."
In December 2015, former president George W. Bush, who signed PEPFAR into law, praised Bono's efforts in helping establish the relief program that helped improve Africa's medical facilities.
Advertisement
Following their meeting, Pence tweeted, "Enjoyed chatting w/ Bono at @MunSecConf. Discussed prior effort to twice pass Africa AIDS assistance & future security in developing nations."
The meeting comes even after Bono repeatedly criticised the Trump campaign throughout the U.S. election.