Published on February 3, 2025
This presidential proclamation designates February 2025 as American Heart Month, emphasizing cardiovascular disease as the nation's leading cause of death and calling for public awareness and action. The proclamation commits to investigating health trends, addressing pharmaceutical industry practices, and encouraging lifestyle changes while promoting National Wear Red Day on February 7, 2025.
While framed as a health initiative, this proclamation appears to serve multiple political purposes. The emphasis on investigating "decades-long increase in health problems" and specific mention of autism and infertility suggests an attempt to legitimize conspiracy theories about public health issues, while the vague promise to "crack down on Big Pharma" without specific policy proposals seems designed to appeal to populist sentiments without meaningful commitment. The religious references and emphasis on "God's gift of life" appear calculated to appeal to specific voter demographics while potentially setting up future policy positions on healthcare access.
While the proclamation's stated goal of addressing cardiovascular disease is laudable, its actual content appears more focused on establishing political narratives than implementing concrete health policies. The mixing of legitimate health concerns with controversial claims about disease trends, combined with politically charged language about pharmaceutical companies, suggests this proclamation serves more as a campaign platform than a meaningful public health initiative.
Every day, untold numbers of our friends, relatives, neighbors, and coworkers are affected by the devastating affliction of heart disease. As the Nation’s leading cause of death, cardiovascular disease has stolen infinite lives, crushed countless families, and imposed unimaginable heartbreak upon Americans of every walk of life. This American Heart Month, we mourn and pray for those we have lost and recommit ourselves to ending the deadly plight of heart disease once and for all.Thanks to advancements in medicine, science, and technology, our Nation has made tremendous strides in combatting heart disease — and the American people are now better equipped than ever before to receive lifesaving treatments, respond to medical complications, and modify behavior and habits to ensure they can lead long and healthy lives. But even one soul lost to heart disease is a tragedy beyond comprehension. To that end, my Administration will work diligently to save lives, lower healthcare costs, and foster a stronger, safer, and healthier future for every citizen. For as long as I am President, I will always be an unwavering advocate for improving the health of every American.The first step in confronting the cardiac disease crisis is taking concrete action to lower the odds of diagnosis — and encouraging those in our lives to take all necessary measures to root out unhealthy habits. Research has consistently shown that risk factors contributing to heart disease include obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol use, and smoking. Making small adjustments to our health and routines can yield extraordinary and even life-saving results. My Administration is also steadfastly committed to cracking down on Big Pharma and ending the chronic disease epidemic. And we will fulfill our pledge to investigate what has caused the decades-long increase in health problems and childhood diseases — including obesity, autoimmune disorders, infertility, and autism. As Americans, we owe it to ourselves and our families to take care of our bodies — and to cherish God’s gift of life for as long and as vigorously as we can.As we enter into this American Heart Month, let us seek to improve our health, lengthen our lives, and nurture a culture, a government, and a Nation that upholds the dignity of life and protects the human heart.In acknowledgement of the importance of the ongoing fight against cardiovascular disease, the Congress, by Joint Resolution approved on December 30, 1963, as amended (36 U.S.C. 101), has requested that the President issue an annual proclamation designating February as American Heart Month.NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim February 2025 as American Heart Month, and I invite all Americans to participate in National Wear Red Day on February 7, 2025. I also invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join my Administration in recognizing and restating our pledge to fighting heart disease in all its forms. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thisthird day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth. THE WHITE HOUSE, February 3, 2025.