Elon Musk and Bill Gates are at each other’s throats again, folks! It all started when Gates accused Musk of putting vulnerable children at risk worldwide by advocating for the dismantling of the US foreign aid system. Musk, not one to stay quiet, fired back during an interview at the Bloomberg Qatar Economic Forum, questioning Gates’ authority to speak on such matters. He challenged Gates to present any evidence supporting his claims, labeling them as false.
Gates had thrown the first punch by condemning Musk’s alleged role in cutting US foreign aid programs, particularly those aimed at helping impoverished communities. He pointed fingers at Musk for slashing funding to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which affected vital programs like HIV prevention in Mozambique. Gates even went as far as suggesting that Musk’s decisions were leading to real-world consequences, such as life-saving vaccines going to waste due to lack of distribution funding.
The feud between these tech giants is nothing new, with past clashes revolving around public health policies, philanthropy, and even finance. Musk has publicly ridiculed Gates for shorting Tesla stock and questioned his commitment to climate initiatives. Gates, on the other hand, has criticized Musk for downplaying COVID-19 and spreading misinformation during the pandemic. The tension between the two has escalated over the years, with jabs being thrown back and forth on social media and public platforms.
