Former President and President-elect Donald Trump announced on social media that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has requested to meet with him at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Trump shared this information in a Truth Social post on Friday morning, also mentioning plans for New Year’s Eve, though he didn’t provide additional details about the potential meeting.
This development is notable because Gates has previously been critical of Trump, especially regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during his first presidency. Gates also supported Trump’s opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, in the 2024 election with a $50 million donation to a nonprofit supporting her campaign. However, Gates did publicly congratulate Trump after his November 5 election victory.
The potential meeting follows a pattern of major tech industry figures engaging with Trump following his election victory. Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago, and several major tech companies have made significant donations to Trump’s inaugural fund:
- Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook): $1 million
- Amazon: $1 million
- Uber Technologies: $1 million
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