Billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates recently appeared on ABC’s “The View,” where he voiced his concerns to the co-hosts about President Donald Trump and Elon Musk drastically downsizing the federal government. Since Trump’s return to office, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has quickly enacted this agenda.
Speaking with the panel, Gates lauded Musk’s work in the private sector, in which he has produced unprecedented innovation through his various companies. However, Gates argued that a private sector mentality doesn’t always translate well within the government. Addressing the USAID controversy in particular, Gates suggested that millions could die from the agency shutting down.
Co-host Sara Haines broached the topic, asking Gates, “Mr. Gates, you also called Elon Musk’s political influence abroad insane, along with another word we can’t repeat here. But what’s your take on his political access and influence here in America right now?” He initially said, “Well, Elon, his private sector work, you know, has been very innovative, really fantastic.”
“A lot of private sector people, when they get into government they don’t take the time necessarily to see what the good work is or why it’s structured the way it is, so I’m a little worried, particularly with this USAID stuff,” Gates added. “My foundation partners with USAID on nutrition and getting vaccines out and, you know, there’s incredible people.”
Gates then referred to a comment from Musk that USAID wasn’t even an “apple with a worm in it” but a ball of worms.” Gates continued, “You know, they’re not actually worms that work there. So, you know, hopefully we’ll get some of that work back in shape. In fact, if we don’t, you know, you could have literally millions of deaths.” He further noted, “So, with aid, people think, you know, wow, how much do we give to these countries, as you said, it’s less than a percent. People think it’s 5%, and it should be 2%, but it’s actually under 1%.”
In other comments to the New York Times, Gates said he would do his best to work with the Trump administration. “I always thought of Silicon Valley as being left of center,” Gates said. “The fact that now there is a significant right-of-center group is a surprise to me.” However, during an interview with the Wall Street Journal Gates noted he was “impressed with the Trump administration. “I felt like he was energized and looking forward to helping to drive innovation,” Gates told the outlet. “I was frankly impressed with how well he showed a lot of interest in the issues I brought up.”
The American Tribune reported on other recent comments from Gates addressing his previous relationship with the deceased Jeffrey Epstein. Gates explained that his relationship over the years with the infamous financier, who hanged himself in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges, was “foolish” and a “huge mistake.”
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Watch Gates below:
Gates made the comments when speaking with the Wall Street Journal in a recent interview ahead of his upcoming book release, “Source Code: My Beginnings.” Speaking about Epstein, Gates said, “In retrospect, I was foolish to spend any time with him. I think I was quite stupid. I thought it would help me with global health philanthropy. In fact, it failed to do that. It was just a huge mistake.”
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