Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates took a lighthearted jab at his fellow tech moguls who attended Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Tuesday.
While appearing as a guest on The View, Gates was asked about the presence of several high-profile tech leaders at the event,
including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, Shou Zi Chew, and Sam Altman.
Gates, who was notably absent from the inauguration, responded with a smirk, implying that his colleagues were there for purely patriotic reasons.
“They clearly wanted to fund the inauguration, they wanted it to be a great inauguration,” Gates quipped, adding with a grin, “For the good of the country, no doubt.”
The remark drew laughter from the audience and underscored Gates’ history of staying somewhat removed from the political entanglements of his billionaire peers.
A Star-Studded Tech Presence at Trump’s Inauguration
Trump’s inauguration drew an impressive lineup of tech leaders, many of whom had previously clashed with the former president. Among the most notable attendees were:
Elon Musk (X and Tesla CEO)
Mark Zuckerberg (Meta CEO)
Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder)
Tim Cook (Apple CEO)
Sundar Pichai (Google CEO)
Shou Zi Chew (TikTok CEO)
Sam Altman (OpenAI CEO)
These figures were not just in attendance but were seated in a highly visible spot—right behind the presidential dais, positioned in front of several of Trump’s cabinet members. Their presence raised questions about their motivations for attending, given that many of them had previously criticized Trump’s policies.
While some speculated that their attendance was a strategic move to maintain influence over government regulations impacting their industries, Gates’ playful jab suggested that their involvement may have also been tied to their financial contributions toward the event.
The View Audience Reacts to Musk’s Government Influence
The discussion on The View soon turned to Elon Musk, who has been a frequent topic of debate on the talk show in recent months. Earlier in the episode, host Whoopi Goldberg raised concerns about Musk’s growing influence over sensitive government affairs.
“Are Americans going to be OK with Musk…” Goldberg began to ask, before being cut off by an overwhelmingly negative response from the studio audience.
“No!” the audience shouted in unison, causing Goldberg to pause, visibly taken aback.
After a brief moment of surprise, she laughed and replied, “Oh, OK!”, acknowledging the audience’s strong reaction.
The segment highlighted growing public skepticism over Musk’s increasing involvement in key areas such as space exploration (SpaceX), artificial intelligence (xAI), and military contracts. His influence on U.S. policy, including his interactions with global leaders and government agencies, has sparked ongoing debate about whether one private individual should wield such power.
Gates’ History of Tech and Politics
Unlike some of his peers, Gates has historically taken a more measured approach to political engagement. Though he has met with multiple U.S. presidents, including Trump during his first term, he has largely focused on philanthropy, global health, and climate change initiatives rather than direct political involvement.
His comment on The View was not the first time he has lightly mocked fellow tech billionaires. Over the years, Gates has been outspoken about what he sees as the overreach of Silicon Valley giants, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and social media regulation.
His recent remarks suggest that, while he respects his colleagues’ business acumen, he remains skeptical about their political motivations.
The Role of Tech in Politics
The attendance of multiple tech leaders at Trump’s inauguration raises broader questions about the evolving relationship between big tech and politics. As technology continues to shape global communication, security, and governance, these executives wield unprecedented influence over the future of society.
While some argue that their presence at political events is necessary to advocate for industry interests, others believe it signals an unhealthy entanglement between corporate power and government policy.
Regardless of their intentions, one thing is clear: the presence of Silicon Valley’s most powerful figures at Trump’s inauguration did not go unnoticed—especially by Bill Gates, who wasn’t afraid to poke fun at the situation.
His cheeky remarks on The View served as a humorous yet pointed reminder that even the wealthiest and most influential figures in tech are not immune to scrutiny.
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