Philanthropist Melinda French Gates has made her first presidential endorsement, supporting Democratic incumbent Joe Biden. Gates, who left the charitable foundation she co-founded with her ex-husband Bill Gates earlier this year with $12.5 billion for her own charity work, emphasized Biden’s commitment to reproductive rights and other key issues in her endorsement.
“The contrast between Joe Biden and Donald Trump could not be greater, and the stakes could not be higher,” Gates stated. She highlighted the importance of having a leader who cares about women’s issues and is committed to protecting their safety, health, and economic power. Gates made her support clear on social media and further elaborated in a CNN opinion piece.
“Women deserve a leader who cares about the issues they face and is committed to protecting their safety, their health, their economic power, their reproductive rights, and their ability to freely and fully participate in a functioning democracy,” Gates wrote on X. She criticized Trump for appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, leading to significant consequences for women and families.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, known for its substantial donations to Democratic causes, contributed about $1.8 million in the 2020 election. Gates’ endorsement comes at a critical time as Biden faces a challenging re-election campaign.
In her CNN piece, Gates argued that Trump’s first term endangered women’s health, safety, and freedom. She highlighted the negative impact of Trump’s policies, particularly regarding reproductive rights, which have been severely restricted since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.
The Trump campaign has not commented on Gates’ endorsement. As the 2024 election approaches, endorsements like Gates’ highlight the stark differences between the candidates and underscore the high stakes involved.
