U2 frontman Bono has received the first ever George W. Bush medal for Distinguished Leadership by the former President himself.

The singer received the honour for his humanitarian work against poverty and preventable diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

In a video, which you can watch below, Bono praised Bush, Congress and American taxpayers for progress made against AIDS in vulnerable populations.


But he said the fight faces an uncertain future. He also said there are problems with the Trump administration “talking about turning back.”

Bono said Americans must be “very hard-headed” about arguing for saving lives.

“It’s a huge honour to [win] this award, and I’m here to honour your leadership on the greatest health intervention in the history of medicine,” Bono added.

“That’s what I’m not sure people understand: 13 million from PEPFAR [President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief], and if you add the Global Relief Fund, it’s probably been 21 million lives have been saved by this work that you began and led and I’m here to honor that.”

In 2002, during a visit to the White House, Bono lobbied the former president to lend financial support to a series of humanitarian organisations that would provide financial assistance and help stem the AIDS crisis in poor countries.


Meanwhile, U2 are heading on tour in North America next month before returning to Europe later this year.

The European leg of the ‘Experience + Innocence’ tour will kick off in August, running through September and October. It will include dates in Berlin, Cologne, Paris, Lisbon, Madrid, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Milan.

U2 will then play four UK dates in Manchester and London.