‘World’s richest man has been involved in the deaths of the world’s poorest children’: Bill Gates slams Elon Musk for cutting USAID budget

Bill Gates

Bill Gates has called out Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump for their role in cutting crucial funding for international aid, saying it could result in more child deaths in poorer countries.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Gates expressed concern over the drastic reduction in USAID funding — the U.S. agency that helps with health care, food, and education in developing nations. He explained, “On childhood deaths, which should have gone from five million to four million over the next few years — now, unless there’s a big reversal, we’ll probably go from five million to six million.”

Earlier this year, Gates said he was impressed by Trump’s interest in global health issues after a long dinner meeting. But those hopes were shattered when Trump and Musk pushed for significant cuts to federal funding, particularly for USAID.
“The cuts to USAID are shocking,” Gates said. “I expected maybe a 20% cut. But right now, it looks like 80%. I didn’t see that coming. Nobody did.”

Gates pointed directly at Musk, accusing him of playing a big part in slashing the budget. He said, “He put it in the wood chipper, because he didn’t go to a party that weekend,” suggesting the decision was made carelessly.

When the interviewer brought up Musk’s commitment to the Giving Pledge, where wealthy individuals promise to donate their fortune, Gates wasn’t impressed. “You can wait until you die and still fulfill it… Who knows? Maybe he’ll become a great philanthropist. But in the meantime, the world’s richest man is involved in the deaths of the world’s poorest children.”

Gates also revealed that he plans to give away almost all of his fortune over the next 20 years through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation is set to officially close in 2045.