President-elect Trump said Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates asked him to visit his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, on Friday night.
“Where are you? When are you coming to Mar-a-Lago, the ‘Center of the Universe’? Bill Gates asked me to come tonight,” Trump posted on Truth Social Friday morning. I wrote it down. “We miss you and x! New Year’s Eve is going to be amazing!!!”
Trump’s post on the platform comes as several major auto and technology companies, including Toyota, Ford, Amazon, Meta and OpenAI, have pledged or already donated to the president-elect’s inaugural fund.
A variety of tech executives have also already met with Trump in Florida, hoping to build better relationships with Republicans as his administration begins in late January.
Gates has been critical of President Trump in the past, particularly his foreign policy rhetoric but also his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the Microsoft co-founder congratulated Trump on his November victory over Vice President Harris, even though Trump supported the Democratic candidate and boosted a Harris-linked PAC with a $50 million donation. His ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, also supported Harris in the 2024 White House race.
Tech billionaire Gates met Trump in New York in December 2016.
“It was a good time,” Gates said at the time. “We had extensive conversations about the power of innovation and how it can help health, education, foreign aid and energy.”
When contacted via email, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation referred The Hill to Gates Ventures, the billionaire’s personal services company, for comment.
The Hill has reached out to Gates Ventures for additional information.
