Bill Gates has made a serious claim. He says Elon Musk’s actions have led to the deaths of children in the poorest parts of the world. According to Gates, Musk played a role in cutting U.S. foreign aid. These cuts, Gates says, are harming kids who rely on health help.
Elon Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during the Trump administration. DOGE helped reduce many spending programs. One of the targets was foreign aid. Gates believes this was a big mistake.
A Harsh Statement from Gates
In an interview with Financial Times, Gates did not hold back. “The image of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one,” he said. His words were strong. He meant to show how serious the issue is.
Gates has spent decades working to help children in poor nations. He says cuts to health aid can undo years of progress. He pointed to diseases like measles, HIV, and polio. These can be stopped with aid. But without help, they come back fast.
Why Foreign Aid Matters
Foreign aid pays for many things. This includes clean water, vaccines, and health workers. These tools save lives. Without them, kids die from sicknesses that we already know how to treat.
Gates said aid is not just money. It is a way to stop suffering. He believes Musk’s support of the aid cuts is wrong. He said that saving money should not come at such a high cost.
Health Setbacks After Aid Cuts
After the aid cuts, health workers in Africa and Asia started to see a rise in disease cases. Some areas saw measles come back. Other regions had trouble getting vaccines to kids.
Dr. Linda Fowler, a global health expert, spoke about this. “When you stop funding vaccines, kids die. It’s that simple,” she said.
She added that we were close to wiping out diseases like polio. But now we are going backward. “It’s like stopping in the middle of a race,” she said.
Musk’s Role in the Cuts
While Musk is best known for leading Tesla and SpaceX, he was also tapped to run DOGE. This group was made to cut waste in the U.S. government. Musk wanted to shrink the budget and remove programs he saw as not useful.
Gates says this view is dangerous when it comes to health aid. “Elon may have meant well,” he said, “but cutting aid to the world’s neediest children is a dangerous game.”
Gates Still Giving Back
Bill Gates is one of the richest people in the world. He has pledged to give away most of his wealth. He plans to donate $200 billion by 2045. Much of this money will go to global health and education. He hopes others in his position will do the same.
“We can’t take it with us,” Gates said. “But we can make sure no child dies from something we know how to stop.”
The Bigger Debate
This issue is not just about Gates and Musk. It’s about how the rich use their power. Some, like Musk, want to change systems and save money. Others, like Gates, want to give back and help people in need.
Musk’s fans say his goal is to make the government smarter. They think he wants to stop waste. But even they admit that cuts need to be planned. If not, people can get hurt.
Lessons from the Pandemic
Gates also pointed to COVID-19. He said the virus showed how fast illness can spread. He believes we must be ready for the next big threat.
“We should be building stronger systems, not weaker ones,” he said.
He added that now is the time to spend more on global health, not less. Many agree. Aid groups and health experts around the world are calling for more funds.
A Call to Action
In the end, Gates says we have a choice. We can cut costs or we can save lives. He believes the right path is clear.
“We must not forget the kids who have no voice,” he said. “Their lives matter, and we can help.”
The fight over foreign aid is far from over. Gates has made his stance clear. He wants billionaires to step up and help. He wants leaders to see that aid saves lives. Musk may have different goals, but Gates is urging him—and others—to think about the people who suffer when money is taken away.
