In addition to the candidates, technology giants have also entered the race in the elections to be held in the US on November 5. Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates said that he donated approximately $50 million to a non-profit organization supporting the candidacy of US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. American billionaire Elon Musk has also reportedly donated a total of $75 million to Republican candidate Donald Trump’s election campaign in the last 3 months.
According to the news of The New York Times (NYT) based on 3 unnamed people, Bill Gates stated that he donated approximately $50 million to the non-profit organization called “Future Forward”, which supports Kamala Harris’s presidential candidacy. Sources, who noted that Gates spoke to people such as former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg about the donation, reported that Bloomberg also made a similar donation to this organization. Gates did not mention the donation and support for Harris’ candidacy in his statement to NYT, but said that the 2024 presidential election is a different election from others. Gates, who stated that he supports candidates who demonstrate a clear commitment to improving healthcare, reducing poverty and combating climate change in the U.S. and around the world, said, “I have a long history of working with leaders from across the political spectrum, but this election is different, and this election has unprecedented significance for Americans and vulnerable people around the world.” Bloomberg’s spokespersons and the Future Forward organization declined to comment on the matter.
MUSK’S SUPPORT FOR TRUMP
According to current data from the Federal Election Commission (FEC), American billionaire Musk donated a total of $75 million to Trump’s election campaign in the period covering July-August-September. Musk, who has openly expressed his support for Trump many times and recently attended a campaign rally for the Republican candidate, played a significant role in Trump’s increased donations during the summer.
The owner of Tesla and SpaceX announced that he would give $1 million a day to those who signed a petition for a political action committee he established to encourage people to go to the polls. Musk’s action has divided opinion among legal experts.
