Bill Gates Contributes $50 Million to Help Kamala Harris in the Adversity of the 2024 Presidential Election
According to a story by The New York Times, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has reportedly given $50 million to a nonprofit organization supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Gates, who is known for remaining politically neutral, has rarely gotten involved in politics before, as evidenced by this action.
Bill Gates reportedly boosts Harris with $50M ‘dark money’ donation: ‘This election is different’https://t.co/A5Nz45iogO pic.twitter.com/oXvX2p2wjv
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 23, 2024
Gates Is Concerned about Trump’s Policies
In a statement, Gates alluded to his support for the donation, calling this election “different,” even though he did not formally confirm it. The Times reports that Gates is concerned about the policies of former President Donald Trump, namely related to possible cuts to global health and family planning initiatives. Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates has been a fervent supporter of many issues.
With Trump’s campaign gaining momentum in recent weeks, Harris is facing more and more obstacles. Trump has a 64% chance of winning the election, according to cryptocurrency prediction site Polymarket, which records wagers on the result. Trump has also benefited from favorable odds from a different political prediction market, PredictIt.
Harris’s Other Billionaire Support
Harris has the support of other wealthy individuals besides Gates. In July, Harris received the endorsement of Melinda French Gates, his ex-wife, who also contributed a sizeable sum to her campaign. In an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, French Gates expressed her support for Harris, highlighting her commitment to tackling social concerns.
French Gates had previously given her very first presidential endorsement to President Biden previously this year. She stated that she had faith in Harris’s capacity to meet important societal demands because of their prior collaboration.
Another donor to the campaign is Harris’s longtime friend Laurene Powell Jobs. With her investing and charitable company, Emerson Collective, Powell Jobs is a well-known Democratic contributor who has contributed millions to Democratic causes and politicians since 2020.
The Role of Billionaires in Elections
According to Forbes, 50 billionaires favor Trump, while at least 81 have endorsed Harris. Harris has criticized Trump’s pro-billionaire policies, but her views on sustainability, health care, and other important issues have won her the support of many of these affluent people. In a letter supporting Harris, a number of billionaires noted her dedication to stability and pro-business policies.
Forbes found at least 100 billionaires in the corners of either former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris—with many more backing Harris. https://t.co/D5wbGkEq7D pic.twitter.com/KsWxJ8XvIy
— Forbes (@Forbes) October 22, 2024
Other powerful billionaires, such as Mark Zuckerberg and Warren Buffett, have opted to avoid political attention by not endorsing a candidate. Stanley Druckenmiller, a millionaire investor, recently implied that financial markets anticipate a Trump victory, which would result in a “red sweep” of Republican congressional candidates.
Effects on the 2024 Race
As Election Day draws near, Harris’s capacity to obtain large financial support from well-known billionaires may prove crucial to her campaign. Although Gates did not publicly acknowledge the donation, his participation shows that he believes this election is crucial. Many Harris fans share his fears about Trump’s possible effects on social programs and global health.
Given the present chances in favor of Trump, the stakes are still high, and Harris is still enlisting the help of powerful contributors who agree with her vision. The contributions of the wealthy donors may have an effect on the dynamics of the campaign and the mood of voters in the closing stages of the contest.