Context:

Bill Gates has sharply criticized Elon Musk, accusing him of causing child deaths in poor countries by drastically reducing foreign aid as head of President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. Gates, in interviews with The New York Times Magazine and The Financial Times, stated that Musk's actions severely undermined progress against diseases like measles, HIV, and polio by dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development. He questioned Musk's commitment to philanthropy, specifically the Giving Pledge, which Musk signed in 2012, while Musk allegedly gloated about the cuts on social media. Despite Gates' harsh words, a White House spokesman defended Musk, praising his efforts to eliminate waste and support American taxpayers. This criticism coincided with Gates announcing plans to wind down the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years, pledging an additional $200 billion to charity during this period.

Dive Deeper:

• Bill Gates condemned Elon Musk for his role in cutting foreign aid, allegedly resulting in the deaths of children in the world's poorest countries due to reduced support for combating diseases like measles, HIV, and polio.

• Gates' criticism focused on Musk's role as head of President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, where Musk was accused of gutting the U.S. Agency for International Development, which Gates argued had reversed decades of progress.

• The rebuke included skepticism about Musk's philanthropic commitments, particularly his adherence to the Giving Pledge, a nonbinding commitment to donate at least half of one's wealth to charity, which Musk signed in 2012.

• Gates' remarks were made during interviews with The New York Times Magazine and The Financial Times, where he used strong language, depicting Musk as responsible for the deaths of impoverished children by undermining aid efforts.

• A White House spokesman defended Musk, portraying him as a patriot fulfilling President Trump's mission to eliminate governmental waste and inefficiency, while simultaneously criticizing Gates' viewpoint.

• The timing of Gates' comments coincided with the announcement of the Gates Foundation's 25th anniversary and Gates' plan to wind down the foundation's work over the next 20 years, with a pledge to donate an additional $200 billion to charity.

• Musk's public gloating over the cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development on social media was directly referenced by Gates, highlighting the tension between the two billionaires over their philanthropic priorities and public responsibilities.