Key Takeaways:

• Bill Gates condemns Elon Musk for influencing foreign politics.
• Musk has openly supported far-right parties in the UK and Germany.
• Gates suggests that countries should implement safeguards against ultra-wealthy foreign individuals impacting elections.
• The criticism comes amid rising tensions between the two tech billionaires regarding their political engagements.
• Musk remains active in U.S. politics through close ties with Donald Trump.

In a recent interview with HuffPost, Bill Gates expressed his concerns over Elon Musk's increasing involvement in the political affairs of foreign countries, calling it "really insane" that Musk could "destabilize political situations" across nations like the UK and Germany. Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, stressed the potential risks associated with ultra-wealthy individuals influencing elections, advocating for countries to “adopt safeguards to make sure super-rich foreigners aren't distorting their elections,” reflecting sentiments he shared with Business Insider.

Musk's interactions with political parties, particularly his support for right-wing factions, have drawn sharp criticism from Gates. Recently, Musk attacked UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and virtually addressed Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, praising their conservative policies on immigration in a Newsweek op-ed. Gates labeled Musk's political engagement as "populist stirring," questioning why a leading entrepreneur in multiple industries would divert attention to such contentious issues when his business interests span across nations.

Reflecting on a dinner with Donald Trump, Gates mentioned they discussed critical issues like global health and his philanthropy efforts. Musk, who reportedly contributed over $250 million to Trump’s political campaigns, now holds a position leading a government efficiency commission. Gates criticized Musk’s approach, stating, "If someone is super-smart... they should think how they can help out. But this is populist stirring," implying a degradation of the political discourse initiated by Musk.

With both billionaires actively lobbying for their respective interests, this clash marks an ongoing rivalry in their public personas. Musk has been vocal about various social issues, including a grooming scandal in the UK and rising right-wing political sentiment across Europe. As of now, Musk has yet to publicly respond to Gates’ remarks, leaving many wonders as to how this conflict may evolve.

For further insights, you can read Gates' full interview here.