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Bill Gates Quietly Supports Kamala Harris for President With $50M Donation

Microsoft founder-turned-philanthropist Bill Gates is reportedly concerned about the ethical and social impacts of a second Donald Trump presidency.

 & Kate Irwin Reporter

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Microsoft founder Bill Gates quietly donated $50 million to a nonprofit backing Kamala Harris.

Gates wrote a check to Future Forward USA Action, the nonprofit arm of super PAC Future Forward, which is working to elect Vice President Harris and broadcasting anti-Trump ads, The New York Times reports.

Gates is reportedly concerned about a second Donald Trump presidency, specifically how one might impact family planning and medical care, two sources close to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation told the Times.

Reached for comment, Gates didn't endorse Harris explicitly. "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," he said.

"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 added.

Gates has not been openly political in the past, but has instead emphasized a desire to work with both US parties. This election season, however, he reportedly said that one "might be able to predict" who gets his support. Gates' ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, and two of his children have also supported the Democratic party, according to the Times.

The Gates Foundation has been focused on tackling poverty, climate change, and other issues at a global scale for years. This month, Gates emphasized the importance of offering digital financial and ID systems for those in developing countries.

Last year, he also predicted that AI will completely change how we use computers. And judging by recent developments from firms like Anthropic, he probably isn't wrong.

About Our Expert

Kate Irwin

Kate Irwin

Reporter

I’m a reporter for PCMag covering tech news early in the morning. Prior to joining PCMag, I was a producer and reporter at Decrypt and launched its gaming vertical, GG. I have previously written for Input, Game Rant, Dot Esports, and other places, covering a range of gaming, tech, crypto, and entertainment news.

I’ve been a PC gamer since The Sims (yes, the original) in the CD-ROM days. I still think about my first-gen pink iPod mini, which, looking back, was not so mini. In 2020, I finally built my own custom Windows PC for gaming with a 3090 graphics card, but I also regularly use Mac and iOS devices. As a reporter, I’m passionate about documenting the wide world of tech and how it affects our daily lives.

My Areas of Expertise

  • Microsoft
  • Google
  • Artificial intelligence 
  • Cybersecurity
  • Video games are a big one. I specialize in shooters (Apex Legends, Fortnite, Overwatch) but I occasionally test out other genres as well, especially indie games or cozy games (The Sims series, Animal Crossing). 
  • The business and tech that powers video games
  • Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology
  • Social media platforms, including Meta’s apps, X/Twitter, Telegram, TikTok, etc.
  • Tech regulation

The Technology I Use

  • MSI gaming laptops
  • Nvidia graphics cards
  • AMD CPUs
  • MacBook Pro and Air laptops
  • An iPhone from 2019 (though I’m thinking about getting a “dumb phone” like the Light Phone)
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PlayStation 5
  • Freewrite Traveler 
  • At home: Sonos speakers (we have them all over the house), Philips Hue + Ring security products

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