'This Is Insane S**t': Bill Gates Puts Elon Musk On Blast In Blunt Interview

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Huff Post

Jan 27, 2025, 03:20 AM EST


Bill Gates criticized fellow tech billionaire Elon Musk for promoting far-right politics not just in the United States, but around the world ― and urged other nations to take action to limit the influence of outsiders such as Musk.

“It’s really insane that he can destabilize the political situations in countries,” Gates told the The Times of London. “I think in the US foreigners aren’t allowed to give money; other countries maybe should adopt safeguards to make sure super-rich foreigners aren’t distorting their elections.” Musk, who became part of President Donald Trump’s inner circle while spending more than $250 million on his campaign, has since spoken out in other countries.

He’s attacked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his center-left Labour Party while dishing out advice to that nation’s right-wing Reform UK party, which he urged to drop leader Nigel Farage. In addition, Musk spoke remotely to Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party over the weekend, urging them to “take pride in Germany” and not feel guilty for the actions of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

Gates, who co-founded Microsoft, was not impressed. “You want to promote the right wing but say Nigel Farage is not right wing enough… I mean, this is insane shit,” Gates told the newspaper. “You are for the AfD [in Germany].” He dismissed Musk’s actions as “populist stirring.”

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bill-gates-elon-musk-insane_n_67972b58e4b01edab1f9209e

[lostnfound]

1. Gates is not perfect but I think he tries

People are always hating on him but I know plenty of poor people who have cheated on spouse, shown bad judgment or engaged in tough business tactics. They are usually judged by others as imperfect, not demonic.

He reads, keeps his mind open, tries to do some good things, questions his own judgment or choices which is a healthy thing to do.

The right wing machine holds centrist or left wing rich do-gooders in disdain, pretending that they are satan-worshipping communists or child predators or murderers. I am reticent to assume that I know enough about these people to judge what kind of people they are.

I’d prefer to keep an open mind.

[mahina]

5. Right? At least he has tried to help people.

Havenʻt seen much of that, or any, from the others.

[4catsmom]

2. he's too rich, Bill

If we'd have taxed him, he couldn't afford to cause all this mischief. Our government tax laws and billionaire greed have wreaked havoc on the world

[iscooterliberally]

3. IMHO good people are not billionaires. n/t

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

4. Most people are not aware of the second half of Lord Acton's famous quote ...

"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men ..."
https://www.acton.org/research/lord-acton-quote-archive

I doubt we will find many people prominent in any real way that are without blemish. My tendency is to judge them on "what have they done for/to me (and others) lately?"

Gates has been doing a lot of good in my current part of the world (Central Africa) in recent years while Mushk has been doing a lot of harm globally by supporting right-wing populists and giving a platform for harmful speech.

Of the two I would rather believe Gates at this point.