Invoice Gates paid a secret go to to the White Home on Friday to personally plead with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reverse cuts to international support that have been spearheaded by tech rival Elon Musk, based on a report.
Gates, the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist who has been vocal in his opposition to cuts made by Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity, sought an viewers with Rubio after his boss’s fallout with the Tesla mogul, former Puck reporter Tara Palmeri reported on her Purple Letter e-newsletter.
President Trump and Musk, as soon as shut political allies, traded barbs on social media final week — ending a partnership that started in the course of the 2024 presidential marketing campaign.
“With Musk on the outs, Gates clearly saw an opportunity to argue for the reversal of the DOGE cuts,” Palmeri reported.
DOGE slashed greater than $8 billion in funding for the US Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID), which gives help within the areas of HIV and AIDS prevention in Africa in addition to treating malaria and different infectious ailments on the continent.
In accordance with Palmeri, nonetheless, Gates’ pleas fell on deaf ears as Rubio informed the software program mogul that there aren’t any plans to reverse the USAID cuts.
“[Rubio] said the country is insolvent, we can’t pay back our debts,” a supply with information of the scenario informed Palmeri.
Gates was likewise noticed within the West Wing and the Eisenhower Govt Workplace Constructing on Friday, making his look round 4 p.m., based on Palmeri.
The mogul appeared simply after Trump’s departure for his Bedminster golf course.
Officers throughout the administration would neither verify nor deny that Gates met with the president, whose consideration on Friday was reportedly consumed by calls from journalists inquiring Elon Musk.
Anna Kelly, a White Home spokesperson, informed The Put up: “We don’t comment on private meetings that may or may not have occurred.”
The New York Occasions’ Teddy Schleifer reported over the weekend that Rubio had refused to fulfill with Gates for months regardless of Gates’s repeated makes an attempt.
Senior State Division officers informed Palmeri that Gates sought a gathering with Rubio in April.
“The Secretary’s position on making important and necessary cuts to foreign aid has not changed,” a senior State Division official informed The Put up, confirming the assembly.
“He does not believe US taxpayers should be burdened with covering the costs for progressive projects abroad, including funding contraceptives, electric buses, and DEI.”
The official added that “as the secretary has repeatedly mentioned, the future of foreign aid under the Trump Administration means that we will only be funding true lifesaving programs and initiatives that advance our national interests.”
The Put up has sought remark from Gates.
Gates was incensed by the DOGE cuts, accusing Musk of “killing the world’s poorest children.” Musk hit again final month, lashing out at Gates over his previous ties to the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
“Who does Bill Gates think he is to make comments about the welfare of children given that he frequented Jeffrey Epstein?” Musk mentioned throughout an interview on Tuesday on the Bloomberg Qatar Financial Discussion board.
“I wouldn’t trust that guy to baby-sit my kids, I can tell you that.”
