Elon Musk is accused by Bill Gates of “killing the world’s poorest children” by his DOGE project.
Bill Gates hasn’t held back when it comes to criticizing Elon Musk. He recently accused Musk of engaging in actions that could put children at risk. His remarks targeted Musk’s role in a government advisory body, stirring fresh controversy.
Meanwhile, the world has shifted drastically since Donald Trump took office on January 20. In just over 100 days, both the political and global landscapes have seen dramatic changes.
As tensions rise between tech billionaires and political leaders, the Bill Gates-Elon Musk feud highlights growing divides over responsibility, regulation, and public influence.
It’s tough to name the most divisive move from the White House so far. Several Trump executive orders have reshaped the U.S.—and the world—at lightning speed.
But one decision stands out.
Trump appointed Elon Musk, a billionaire ally, to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The move aimed to slash government spending and reduce the federal workforce. Naturally, it drew plenty of attention—especially from other billionaires.
Bill Gates didn’t stay silent.
He strongly objected to Musk’s cost-cutting measures under DOGE, accusing him of endangering vulnerable children. Gates claimed Musk’s decisions could expose at-risk populations to dangerous conditions, all in the name of efficiency.
This deepens the already tense Bill Gates criticism of Musk, injecting serious moral questions into what some saw as just a budget strategy.
Under Musk’s leadership, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has aggressively downsized several agencies—especially those tied to foreign aid.
Top of the list was the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In February, Elon Musk called USAID a “criminal organization” and declared, “It’s time for it to end.”
At the time, USAID employed nearly 10,000 people and led the world in humanitarian aid, contributing over $40 million in 2023 alone. But that didn’t stop Musk from pushing to shut it down.
He labeled the agency a complete failure.
“It became plain that it’s not an apple with a worm in it,” Musk said. “We currently have a ball of worms. You really have to essentially throw away the whole thing.”
His Musk government efficiency plan sparked outrage among aid groups and global partners. The DOGE foreign aid cuts now stand as one of the most controversial elements of Musk’s tenure.
Bill Gates didn’t hold back when criticizing Elon Musk over foreign aid cuts. He called the decision to shut down American development programs abroad completely “misguided.”
In an interview with the Financial Times, the Microsoft co-founder said he was appalled that the world’s richest man would harm the children of the world’s poorest families.
Gates emphasized the real-world impact of Musk’s DOGE budget cuts. Vital supplies—like food and life-saving medicine—are now sitting unused in warehouses. Meanwhile, developing nations face rising threats from measles, HIV, and polio outbreaks due to a lack of support.
He went even further.
Gates accused Musk of halting funding to a Gaza hospital that had been preventing HIV transmission from mothers to children. According to Gates, Musk falsely claimed the U.S. was supplying condoms to Hamas, using that as a pretext to stop aid.
The move, Gates warned, had “disastrous results.”
This sharp Bill Gates-Elon Musk foreign aid clash has turned into a global flashpoint—raising urgent questions about how much power one billionaire should have over life-and-death aid decisions.
Bill Gates didn’t mince words. He said he wishes Elon Musk could meet the children who became HIV-positive due to the funding cuts Musk supported.
That statement adds fuel to the long-running billionaire feud between Gates and Musk.
Though Musk signed the Giving Pledge in 2012—a commitment to donate at least half his wealth—he later dismissed it as “bulls***” during a private meeting with Gates. The jab stung, especially given Gates’ intense focus on global health.
At 69, Gates is on a mission to give nearly all of his fortune away. His plan? Shut down the Gates Foundation by 2045. He’s aiming to pour $200 billion into global health, education, and development, with a strong focus on disease eradication and HIV prevention.
Still, Gates admitted his efforts face a massive challenge.
Despite his commitment, he said his donations can’t match the damage caused by the USAID budget cuts—which left a staggering $44 billion deficit last year alone.
In a letter expressing his life’s mission, Gates wrote:
“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. Too many pressing issues call for solutions.”
His message was clear: wealth is meaningless if it’s not used to help those most in need.
