By iNewsAfrica Global Desk | May 9, 2025
In a rare and scathing rebuke, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has accused tech mogul Elon Musk of indirectly contributing to the death of vulnerable children in the world’s poorest regions by advocating for drastic cuts to foreign aid.
Speaking at the Global Health and Equity Forum in Geneva, Gates criticized what he called “dangerous populist rhetoric” pushed by billionaires who oppose government-funded foreign aid programs. While not naming Musk directly at first, Gates later clarified when pressed by reporters that Musk’s repeated calls for scaling back international aid to “fix America first” policies were “reckless and morally bankrupt.”
“When billionaires use their platforms to argue against aid, they are playing with human lives,” Gates said.
“Let’s be clear: millions of children rely on vaccines, food security programs, and basic health services funded by foreign aid. Cutting these programs kills. It’s that simple.”
The former Microsoft CEO, who has long championed global health initiatives through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, contrasted Musk’s approach with his own, reaffirming his personal mission to give away nearly all of his $124 billion fortune.
“I’m not taking my wealth to the grave. I’m giving it back to humanity—because that’s what leadership demands,” Gates declared.
Musk, who recently celebrated SpaceX’s first fully commercial lunar cargo mission, has previously defended his position on redirecting foreign aid toward domestic infrastructure and technological advancements. In a social media post last month, Musk argued that “charity begins at home” and called for “ending foreign dependency on U.S. taxpayers.”
Critics have since accused Musk of prioritizing space colonization and artificial intelligence over the immediate needs of struggling populations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Global reactions to Gates’ statement have been swift. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, and several African health ministries have publicly backed Gates’ remarks, warning that any disruption to foreign aid funding could reverse decades of progress in fighting child mortality, hunger, and infectious diseases.
Meanwhile, Musk has yet to respond directly to Gates’ allegations, though his supporters on social media have dismissed the criticism as “performative philanthropy.”
As the global debate over billionaires’ social responsibilities intensifies, Gates’ bold stand may further pressure ultra-wealthy individuals to clarify their positions on giving back to the world’s most vulnerable communities.
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