• Bill Gates described a recent dinner meeting with Donald Trump as "intriguing" and noted he was impressed by Trump's engagement in global health discussions.
• The conversation focused on innovations for curing HIV and addressing polio resurgence, reflecting Gates' philanthropic goals.
• Gates emphasized the importance of collaboration in accelerating vaccine innovation, comparing it to Trump's "Operation Warp Speed" during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The meeting included discussions on how to maximize chances of eradicating polio within the next four years.
• Several billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, have reached out to Trump following his election victory.

Bill Gates recently shared the details of his productive dinner meeting with former President Donald Trump, which took place at Mar-a-Lago. In an interview with the HuffPost, Gates stated that he was "frankly impressed" with Trump's interest in pressing global health issues. The dinner, attended by Trump's incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles and Gates's associate Larry Cohen, lasted approximately three hours and permitted a wide-ranging discussion about potential health innovations.

During the dinner, Gates emphasized the significance of the HIV cure that his foundation is pursuing, noting they are still in the early stages. Gates remarked, "I was asking him if maybe the same kind of thing could be done here," referencing Trump's ability to accelerate vaccine innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed that both he and Trump became "pretty excited" about the prospects for advancing significant health initiatives ([The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5092973-bill-gates-donald-trump-meeting/)).

Furthermore, Gates and Trump discussed the potential reinstatement of efforts against polio, a disease that has seen a resurgence in areas including Gaza and parts of Africa. Gates noted, "He was fascinated to hear what he could do to maximize the chance that during the next four years, that incredible milestone will be achieved," illustrating the meeting's forward-looking ambition.

While Gates has occasionally criticized Trump in the past, he highlighted that, during this meeting, Trump showed a level of enthusiasm and curiosity about health topics that was surprising. "I felt like he was energized and looking forward to helping to drive innovation," Gates commented, supporting the notion that such high-profile dialogues can foster significant advancements in public health.

This gathering is part of a broader trend where billionaires are reaching out to Trump post-election, a tactic utilized by figures like Amazon's Jeff Bezos and SpaceX's Elon Musk, each of whom have found common ground with the former president on various initiatives ([Newsweek](https://www.newsweek.com/bill-gates-donald-trump-dinner-2017103)). Trump's ability to collaborate with influential figures like Gates echoes the ongoing intersection of philanthropy and politics. The full details of their dinner conversation are anticipated to be unpacked further in upcoming media interviews, continuing to attract interest in the implications of such high-stakes discussions.