Bill Gates has expressed strong disapproval of Elon Musk, criticizing the billionaire for his involvement in a government department, which Gates claims is responsible for harming children.
Since Donald Trump took office on January 20, the political and global landscape has undergone significant changes compared to 100 days prior.
Numerous executive orders and decisions from the White House have led to significant transformations, making it challenging to identify the most contentious of these actions.
One of the more notable decisions is Trump appointing Elon Musk, referred to as his ‘First Buddy,’ to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with reducing the federal workforce and saving money. This decision has drawn criticism from other billionaires like Gates.
Bill Gates has expressed his dissatisfaction with Musk’s cost-reduction efforts under DOGE, accusing him of endangering the lives of impoverished children globally.
In recent months, DOGE has reduced the size of various agencies and departments, particularly in areas like the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Musk had previously labeled USAID a ‘criminal organization’ and advocated for its dissolution.
USAID previously employed around 10,000 individuals and was globally recognized as the largest donor of humanitarian aid, having allocated over $40 million worldwide in fiscal year 2023.
Musk, however, viewed it as a misuse of federal funds and decided to shut it down.
“It became apparent that it’s not an apple with a worm it in,” Musk said at the time. “What we have is just a ball of worms. You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing.”
Gates strongly disagrees with these cuts to US development efforts abroad, describing them as poorly advised.
In an interview with the Financial Times, the Microsoft co-founder remarked, “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one.”
He further explained that the drastic reductions have resulted in essential medicines and food supplies becoming unusable in storage while countries deprived of these resources might witness a resurgence of diseases such as measles, HIV, and polio.
Moreover, Gates accused Musk of withdrawing grants intended to support a hospital in Gaza that helps prevent HIV transmission from mothers to their newborns, based on unfounded claims that the US distributed condoms to Hamas in the area.
“I’d love for him to go in and meet the children that have now been infected with HIV because he cut that money,” he said.
These remarks follow previous disputes between Gates and Musk.
Back in 2012, Musk, the CEO of Tesla, had signed a Giving Pledge alongside other billionaires, committing to donating at least half of their wealth. However, Musk reportedly dismissed the initiative to Gates as ‘bulls***.’
Additionally, Gates has announced plans to donate nearly all of his wealth in the coming years, intending to close the Gates Foundation by 2045.
He outlined ambitious plans to invest $200 billion into global health, education, and development, aiming to eliminate diseases through vaccines, improve maternal and child health, and combat HIV.
However, Gates acknowledged that his personal contributions are insufficient to compensate for the reduction in USAID funding, which amounted to $44 billion last year.
In a letter explaining his decision, Gates stated, “People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that ‘he died rich’ will not be one of them. There are too many urgent problems to solve.”