Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates claimed this week that cuts to U.S. foreign aid during President Donald Trump’s administration have resulted in a rise in global child deaths, a charge the White House sharply rejected.
Speaking with Politico’s Dasha Burns, Gates pointed to findings in the Gates Foundation’s 2025 Goalkeepers report, which projects 4.8 million child deaths worldwide in 2025—an increase of over 200,000 from the previous year. Gates attributed the rise, in part, to “sudden and massive cuts” in aid from countries like the United States.
“Nobody wants to take responsibility for the tragedy that’s going on here,” Gates said. He acknowledged conversations with President Trump, stating that the president “clearly cares” and wants to find a “generous level” of support but emphasized that the impact of reduced funding has been deadly.
The report’s figures mark the first year this century where child mortality is projected to increase. Gates indicated that the reduction in support from the U.S. and other nations directly correlates with a worsening humanitarian crisis, particularly in impoverished regions dependent on global aid for basic health care access.
The Trump administration pushed back strongly against Gates’ claims. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said, “This is totally false – America remains the most generous country in the world because President Trump has a humanitarian heart.” Kelly added that the administration’s foreign aid approach ensures programs align with U.S. interests.
A senior administration official argued that the current strategy eliminates waste by defunding bloated NGOs and redirecting support directly to those in need. “We’re not going to fund an NGO industrial complex that built itself up,” the official said. “It’s going to be much more successful and much more effective.”
The administration also noted that the U.S. continues to provide more foreign aid than any other country, emphasizing a restructured and more accountable model. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been working with Gates, has not publicly commented on the exchange, though Gates expressed optimism about future cooperation with both Rubio and President Trump.
Gates said he remains hopeful that U.S. generosity will return to pre-2025 levels, referencing previous bipartisan support for international health initiatives.
