Bill Gates recently shared details of a private dinner he had with President-elect Donald Trump, providing insight into the wide-ranging discussions they had over three hours at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Gates described the meeting as “intriguing,” focusing largely on global health initiatives, including vaccine development—an area where Gates has been heavily involved through his foundation.
Gates revealed that the dinner included only a small group: Trump, Gates, Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles, and Larry Cohen, a top official from Gates’ team. “It was quite wide-ranging,” Gates said, highlighting their discussions about advancements in global health and the potential for further innovation in the field.
The meeting follows Trump’s cryptic post on Truth Social about Gates’ visit, referring to Mar-a-Lago as the “Center of the Universe.” While Gates avoided explicitly addressing politics in the interview, the timing of the meeting raised questions, particularly in light of Trump’s controversial pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy has been a vocal critic of Gates, especially on vaccine-related issues, and it remains unclear whether Gates addressed these concerns during the dinner.
Adding to the intrigue, reports indicate that Gates recently made a $50 million contribution to Vice President Kamala Harris, potentially signaling his continued alignment with progressive policies and priorities. This has fueled speculation about the dynamics between Gates and the incoming Trump administration, given the billionaire’s history of supporting Democratic causes and his well-documented policy differences with Trump.
While the specifics of the conversation remain largely under wraps, the meeting underscores Gates’ ongoing influence in public health and his willingness to engage directly with leaders across the political spectrum, even amid ideological disagreements.
