Elon Musk fires back at Bill Gates after being accused of causing millions of deaths over DOGE cuts: “Show us any evidence”

It’s a battle between billionaires.

During an interview with CNN, Microsoft founder Bill Gates attacked Elon Musk for his role in the gutting of USAID.

Gates told Anderson Cooper that he was “disappointed” to see close to all of USAID’s work characterized as a waste of public funds and part of a radical political agenda contrary to US interests.

Speaking about the PEPFAR program, which distributes HIV treatment medication to millions of people, Gates explained that the disbursement of drugs was paused for around 48 hours before resuming. However, USAID employees who manage PEPFAR have not been allowed into their Washington, D.C. office, making it more difficult for in-country staff to communicate their needs or resolve issues as they arise. “You could have 10 million deaths if [PEPFAR] was cut abruptly,” warned the billionaire.

Gates is careful not to criticize Musk directly

Gates was careful when talking about Musk specifically. He told Anderson Cooper that he thought the SpaceX CEO was “super smart” and described his work in the private sector as “fantastic.” Nevertheless, he did admit that he had been “surprised” by Musk’s endorsement of far-right parties in Europe, and that those close to him didn’t discourage him from voicing so many political opinions so openly. "I am surprised [by] the number of things he states opinions on. I’ve always had friends around me who make sure I don’t spout off on too many things at the same time.”

Speaking with the Financial Times, Gates was a bit more direct, saying that the optics of Elon’s involvement in the gutting of USAID weren’t good. “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one,” said Gates.

Musk attacks Gates directly

The comments have clearly bothered Musk, who attacked Gates earlier this week at the Qatar Economic Forum.

Musk pointed to Gates’ relationship with pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to say that the Microsoft founder shouldn’t make comments about the well-being of children.

“Who does Bill Gates think he is to make comments about the welfare of children, given that he frequented Jeffrey Epstein?”

Gates met with Epstein on multiple occasions after he had been found guilty of sex crimes relating to the procurement of an underage prostitute. However, so did Musk and his brother Kimball. Additionally, it is well known that Presidnet Donald Trump, as well as former Presidnet Clinton, were also friends or at a minimum friendly with Epstein.

“I wouldn’t want that guy to babysit my kids,” said Musk, referring to Gates, as a not-so-subtle attempt to label the fellow billionaire a pedophile.

When pressed on Gates’ assertion that Musk’s cuts to USAID would lead to the deaths of millions of children, the Tesla CEO said that there was no evidence to support those claims, calling Gates a “huge liar.” He went on to say that he had asked to meet with children who had benefited from USAID programs, but hadn’t been

“Like, can we at least see a few kids, like, where are they?” said Musk, alluding to the fact that perhaps there weren’t as many beneficiaries as the agency had claimed. Ultimately, Musk told his interviewer, Mishal Husain, that he would continue funding to specific programs if someone showed him evidence that the cuts were endangering lives.

On a separate note, Musk said that he would not be making major political contributions, at least publicly, in the future, given the backlash to Tesla and his reputation since Presidnet Trump took office.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.