 "Bill Gates backs Harris, privately donates $50 million for her presidential race against Trump")
Microsoft co-founder and one of the richest persons in the world, Bill Gates, has privately donated about $50 million to a nonprofit organisation supporting Kamala Harris’ US presidential run.
A report by the New York Times quoted three people with knowledge of the matter as saying that Gates has said that he made his donation to Future Forward, the main outside fund-raising group supporting Harris.
As per a report by Forbes, with his donation, Gates has joined the list of over 80 billionaires supporting Harris in her fight against Donald Trump for the Presidential post.
Meanwhile, Republican presidential nominee Trump, so far, is enjoying backing of only 50 billionaires, but one of the world’s richest men, Elon Musk, is among his supporters.
The donation by Gates was meant to stay under wraps as the billionaire has not publicly endorsed Democrat presidential nominee Harris.
As per the NYT report, Gates, in private calls to friends and others this year, has also expressed “concern” about what a return of Trump to White House would look like.
Gates’ philanthropic organisation – the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – is significantly concerned about potential cuts to family planning and global health programs if Trump is voted to power, the report cited two people close to the foundation as saying.
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View AllGates, however, said that he could work with either candidate, the report quoted a person briefed on the billionaire’s thinking as saying.
In a statement in response to the NYT report, Gates did not specifically talk about donation or offer an endorsement of Harris in the presidential race. Instead, he stressed his bipartisanship, but also said that “this election is different."
“I support candidates who demonstrate a clear commitment to improving health care, reducing poverty and fighting climate change in the US and around the world,” the NYT report quoted Gates as saying.
“I have a long history of working with leaders across the political spectrum, but this election is different, with unprecedented significance for Americans and the most vulnerable people around the world,” Gates further said.
Back in July when Harris was made the new Democratic presidential nominee after Joe Biden dropped his re-election bid, Gates, in an interview with FRANCE 24 said he welcomed the prospect of “somebody who’s younger, who can think about things like AI”.
Harris turned 60 last week, while Trump is 78 and is the oldest nominee for president in the history of the United States.
Billionaires who donated to groups supporting Harris
Though Gates is the latest addition, the others in the list include Steven Spielberg, Arthur Blank, Melinda French Gates, Michael Moritz, Sheryl Sandberg, David Blitzer, Amy Goldman Fowler, Neil Bluhm, Reid Hoffman, Reed Hastings, Laurene Powell Jobs, Sean Parker, Tyler Perry.
The US will vote for a new President on November 5, barely two weeks from now. Both the candidates - Harris and Trump – are doing their maximum to reach out to voters to seal their place in the White House as the head of the world’s most developed nation.
With inputs from agencies.
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