Gavin Newsom criticised for praising Ronald Reagan – who ‘facilitated’ thousands of AIDS deaths

California governor Gavin Newsom is being criticised for sharing a quote by former Republican president Ronald Reagan, whose administration’s silence on the HIV/AIDS crisis led to the deaths of thousands of queer people.

“The presidency once served as a reminder of our common humanity,” Newsom’s press office wrote in post shared across his social media platforms, as a dig against Trump.

“Ronald Reagan described its purpose as building “a nation composed of good and decent people,” the post goes on to read.

The quote dates from 1984, when Reagan delivered a speech at University College, Galway in Northern Ireland – now known as the University of Galway – and received an honorary doctorate of law degree as well as Freedom of the City and a resolution scroll by mayor Michael Leahy. A recording of his speech is available on YouTube.

The full quote from his speech reads: “We’re still a nation comprised of good and decent people whose fundamental values of tolerance, compassion, and fair-play guide and direct the decisions of our government.” The “we’re” he mentions being the United States.

Across social media, many users were quick to call out the Californian Democrat – who has presidential hopes – for putting Reagan on a pedestal, with many noting his negative legacy when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.

“So close! ronald reagan actually facilitated the mass death of a generation of gay people,” activist Matt Bernstein wrote on X.com.

“Was Reagan’s AIDS response ‘a reminder of our common humanity’ too?” another user asked.

A third wrote: “The presidency once served as a reminder of our common humanity. TELL THAT TO ALL THOSE DIED OF AIDS DURING HIS REGIME, WHO DID NOTHING ABOUT AIDS.”

The Reagan administration is infamous for ignoring the early years of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States, with Reagan only publicly acknowledging AIDS in the mid-1980s some years after the outbreak began.

This silence on the issue was maintained despite the deaths of around 20,000 people across the US, including the Reagans’ friend and Hollywood actor, Rock Hudson.

In recent months, Newsom has been increasingly criticised by the LGBTQ+ community for what appeared to be a U-turn on his support for trans people as he aligns himself with more centrist politics to be seen as a potential Democrat candidate for the next presidential election.

Newsom, who previously had what was considered by many to be strong record on queer rights, launched his podcast This is Gavin Newsom in March, the first episode of which saw the governor speak with Turning Point USA founder and far right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, prior to his death.

During the episode, Newsom told Kirk he “completely” agreed with his views on trans exclusion in sport and described it as an issue of “fairness” and “deeply unfair”.

Newsom’s comments came a few weeks after Trump signed an executive order banning trans women and girls from participating in female sports and some months before the Trump administration would threaten legal action against California over trans inclusion.

More recently, Newsom has swung the pendulum back the other way and – during a clash with tech billionaire Elon Musk – said: “I want to see trans kids… I have a trans godson. There’s no governor who’s signed more pro-trans legislation than I have.”