Bill Gates Slams Elon Musk Over Foreign Aid Cuts

Source: YouTube

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist billionaire Bill Gates has launched one of his harshest public criticisms in recent years, directly accusing Elon Musk of contributing to child deaths in the world’s poorest countries. The remarks stem from Musk’s role overseeing the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under President Donald Trump’s second-term administration. Gates said the impact of Musk’s budget cuts undermined decades of progress in global health and disease prevention.

In back-to-back interviews with The New York Times Magazine and The Financial Times, Gates said Musk “put USAID in the wood chipper.” He cited reductions in funding for disease programs targeting HIV, measles, and polio. According to Gates, the cuts were not simply bureaucratic, they also led to fatal consequences. He described the foreign aid rollbacks as reckless and morally indefensible.

Gates questioned Musk’s sincerity regarding philanthropy, including his public commitment to the Giving Pledge. “He could go on to be a great philanthropist,” Gates told The Times. “In the meantime, the world’s richest man has been involved in the deaths of the world’s poorest children.”

Foreign Policy, Billionaires, and Political Power

Gates said Musk used this authority to gut overseas assistance programs that save millions of lives annually. The criticism landed the same week that Gates announced a $200 billion commitment to the Gates Foundation. The foundation, which turned 25 this month, plans to wind down over the next two decades. Gates described the commitment as an effort to close the wealth gap and address preventable suffering.

“Elon Musk is a patriot working to fulfill President Trump’s mission to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse,” said White House spokesman Harrison Fields. “Backbenchers should celebrate the selfless efforts of America’s most innovative entrepreneur.”

Elon Musk’s World Getting Smaller

Meanwhile, Elon Musk is facing growing scrutiny on several fronts beyond foreign aid. As head of the Department of Government Efficiency, he has drawn criticism for pushing abrupt agency cuts without clear legislative oversight. His influence over Trump’s re-election campaign has also come under fire, particularly after leaked memos suggested he played a role in shaping the administration’s second-term budget agenda. Meanwhile, reports of Musk planning a quiet exit from public office have sparked speculation about internal disagreements and mounting backlash. Critics argue that his retreat underscores the challenges of merging private-sector disruption with public-sector governance.

Musk’s political entanglements and aggressive rhetoric have also started to impact Tesla’s brand image. Once celebrated as a clean energy pioneer, the company now finds itself navigating consumer backlash tied to Musk’s polarizing persona. Analysts note a softening in brand sentiment among younger, urban buyers, which were once Tesla’s most loyal demographic. Controversial statements, political endorsements, and frequent clashes with public institutions have muddied the company’s public profile. While Tesla remains a market leader in electric vehicles, its long-term valuation is increasingly tied not just to innovation, but to whether its CEO’s actions continue to alienate key customer segments.

Public Fallout and Polarized Reactions

The Gates–Musk clash is generating global attention. Supporters of Gates say the criticism is long overdue and highlights a larger issue of billionaire involvement in foreign policy. Humanitarian organizations have echoed concerns that USAID’s budget cuts are already reversing decades of health gains.

Musk loyalists, however, view the backlash as political. Conservative media figures have framed Gates’s statements as elitist and out-of-touch. They argue that domestic efficiency should take priority over foreign assistance and question the measurable success of U.S. aid abroad.

Internationally, reactions have been mixed. European Union health officials expressed concern over the stability of collaborative aid programs. African public health leaders warned that budget gaps could increase mortality and set back regional development by years.

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