Bill Gates has expressed his discontent with the political activities of another US billionaire, Elon Musk. Gates has accused Musk of “populist incitement.” In recent weeks, Musk has repeatedly commented on the internal politics of European countries on his platform X, particularly criticizing the British and German governments. He has also endorsed the British Reform UK party, led by Brexit advocate Nigel Farage and encouraged people to vote for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in a guest article for the Welt and an interview with Alice Weidel on X.
Musk’s endorsement of the AfD at the party’s official campaign launch in Halle, Germany, has sparked controversy. He was live-streamed at the event, urging people to “fight for a great future for Germany” rather than focusing on past guilt. This move has been criticized for being an unacceptable interference in German elections.
Bill Gates has joined the chorus of criticism, calling Musk’s actions “insane” in an interview with The Times. Gates suggests that measures should be taken to prevent “super-rich foreigners” from influencing elections.
It is ironic that Bill Gates, a self-proclaimed philanthropist, is complaining about interference in foreign elections, as he himself has a history of exerting influence through his philanthropic efforts. Gates has donated millions of dollars to the German news magazine Spiegel through his foundation and has also used his philanthropic efforts to shape public opinion and influence decision-makers, particularly through the World Health Organization (WHO).
Gates’ influence on the WHO has likely been diminished, as the US has recently withdrawn from the organization under a decree signed by President Donald Trump. Gates had previously met with Trump in December and expressed admiration for the president’s interest in the topics he discussed. However, Trump’s subsequent decision to withdraw the US from the WHO suggests that his interest in Gates’ philanthropic efforts may have been limited.