Bill Gates is 'impressed' by President Trump's interest in global health issues

Notorious billionaire Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and global vaccine enthusiast, shares his thoughts on his recent dinner with President-elect Donald Trump in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. said. Reflecting on the three-hour meeting, Gates praised President Trump's interest in global health efforts and said the conversation was “very interesting.”

“I had a chance to have a long and really interesting dinner with him about two weeks ago,” Gates told WSJ Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker. Gates said the dinner, which included incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, covered a “broad range” of topics.

Warp speed for “HIV treatment”?

Gates pointed to President Trump's involvement in accelerating vaccine development during the coronavirus pandemic, with “philanthropists” saying his foundation is currently in the early stages of development. He drew parallels with potential advances in the development of “HIV cures,” which are still in the pipeline.

“(Trump) accelerated vaccine innovation during the coronavirus era,” Gates said, referring to Operation Warp Speed ​​(OWS). The Trump administration-initiated effort streamlines funding, regulatory approvals, and logistical support to accelerate the development and distribution of coronavirus vaccines, resulting in multiple vaccines being developed in record time. , was approved.

President Trump proudly calls himself the “Father of Vaccines” and continues to express pride in the success of OWS to this day.

However, the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines has proven to be highly questionable, making them a major part of the debate over unprecedented health policy and mandates, as covered extensively in The New American. At issue (see here, here, here, here, here, and here).

“So I asked him if maybe we could do something similar here, and I think we were both pretty excited about that,” Gates said. Amazing things like this have happened and may continue to happen.”

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has made gene-based approaches to curing HIV a top priority. In 2019, they partnered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and each committed $100 million to accelerate research into breakthrough gene editing technology. According to the official announcement:

This effort follows President Donald J. Trump's bold announcement in his State of the Union address earlier this year that he would end the HIV epidemic in the United States over the next 10 years.

The partnership aims to develop “scalable and affordable” genetic-based solutions, especially for resource-limited settings where the burden of HIV infection is highest. This includes sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions.

“Eradicate polio”

Gates also emphasized the shared interest in combating the rise in polio cases in countries ranging from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Gaza and African countries where cases are currently “surging.” he said:

We also talked about polio, and we're very close to that. However, if you stop (vaccinating), the infection will spread again. … So (President Trump) was interested in hearing what could be done to maximize the likelihood that that incredible milestone would be achieved over the next four years. I felt like he was full of energy and was looking forward to driving innovation.

The Gates Foundation has long championed the “complete eradication of polio.” In October 2022, we announced a commitment of $1.2 billion to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)'s Polio Eradication Strategy 2022-2026.

Gates ended this part of the interview with an incredulous laugh.

I was frankly impressed by the level of interest he showed in the issues I raised.

The foundation's past polio efforts have faced controversy as they have been linked to outbreaks of vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) and cases of severe paralysis in children. Additionally, allegations of a lack of informed consent in certain vaccination drives have raised ethical concerns regarding the implementation of these efforts.

meeting

The first report on the meeting between Bill Gates and President-elect Donald Trump appeared on Truth Social on December 27, 2024, when Trump requested that Gates meet with him at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida that evening. It came to light when it was announced.

The announcement drew attention because Gates had previously criticized President Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. But after Trump's election victory, Gates publicly congratulated the president and expressed hope for future cooperation “to build a brighter future for all.”

Trump administration and biotechnology

Bill Gates' policies in global health align closely with the interests of key figures in the incoming Trump administration, particularly in the biotechnology sector. The administration's priorities, which are investing heavily in cutting-edge treatments like mRNA technology, resonate with Gates' focus on vaccine innovation.

Vivek Ramaswamy, appointed co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), exemplifies this collaboration. Mr. Ramaswamy, founder of Roivant Sciences, is a prominent player in the biotechnology space having launched Genevent Sciences in 2018, a company specializing in RNA-based therapeutics, including mRNA technology among others. Genevant's involvement in the legal dispute over mRNA vaccine patents underscores the company's active role in shaping the future of genetic medicine, a focus for Gates as well.

Similarly, Vice President J.D. Vance brings biotech credentials to the administration. Mr. Vance has invested in biotech startups such as Kriya Therapeutics and AmplifyBio through Narya Capital, demonstrating his commitment to advancing genetic medicine.

As Gates continues to champion new vaccines and promote widespread vaccination, the Trump administration's biotech-friendly approach appears to be a fertile environment for advancing shared goals in vaccine development.

President Trump and Big Pharma

The synergy between the incoming administration and big pharmaceutical companies was evident at a high-profile dinner hosted by President Trump at Mar-a-Lago on December 5, 2024. The event brought together key figures in the pharmaceutical industry, including Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and Eli. Lilly CEO David Ricks, PhRMA CEO Stephen Uble, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Gates' efforts, particularly on vaccine innovation, reflect a broader push by pharmaceutical executives and the administration to foster public-private collaboration in biotechnology.

However, Gates' deep involvement in public health, coupled with his controversial history and advocacy for population control, has given rise to significant challenges in giving powerful biotech and pharmaceutical interests significant influence over important health policy. highlights the risks. This concentration of power raises urgent questions about prioritizing experimental technology and corporate objectives over transparency, ethical responsibility, and public welfare.

More importantly, it highlights serious concerns about the unconstitutional entanglement of the federal government with the medical field. By collaborating with private companies in biotechnology, governments can use the power of the law to enact policies that can further undermine individual freedoms, entrench oligarchic interests in public health, and undermine accountability. We are promoting it. This concentration of power not only jeopardizes the principles of the Constitution, but also poses a direct threat to the rights and freedoms of the people that the Constitution is meant to serve.