Co-chair of Gates Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill Gates Speaks Out Over Epstein Files Inclusion | The View
'The View' co-hosts weigh in on Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda responding about Bill's inclusion in the latest Epstein files that were released.
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About Bill Gates
Bill Gates spoke at the inaugural Paul E. Farmer Butaro Dialogues in Rwanda in July 2026, where he reflected on the legacy of his friend Paul Farmer and discussed global health challenges. Gates noted that donor countries are shrinking aid budgets and that last year was the first time since the turn of the century that childhood deaths increased worldwide, with many of those additional deaths occurring in Africa. He argued that artificial intelligence should be directed toward those most in need, stating that if left to normal market forces, AI would primarily benefit wealthy countries, and that bringing AI to overloaded healthcare workforces in Africa could save many lives. Gates also shared personal anecdotes about Farmer, including a story about trekking through the Rwandan jungle with Farmer wearing a suit and tie while they discussed tuberculosis, malaria, and health data centers. He described how Farmer's work inspired his own daughters, with his oldest daughter Jennifer going on to study medicine after visiting Farmer's projects in Haiti. Gates told students at the event that "people like Paul proved that a better world is possible" and that "our task is to insist on it."
Transcript (29 segments)
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Narrator0:00
Bill Gates is one of the many powerful figures who show up in the Epstein files, and both he and his ex-wife Melinda are responding about some disturbing emails about him that have come to light. Take a look.
M
Melinda Gates0:14
Whatever questions remain there, of what I don't, can't even begin to know all of it, those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need the answer to those things. Not me. I left my marriage. I had to leave my marriage. I wanted to leave my marriage. I had to leave the, I felt I needed to eventually leave the foundation. So, it's just sad.
B
Bill Gates0:32
I was only at dinners, you know, I never went to the island. I never met any women. And so, you know, the more that comes out, the more clear it'll be that although the time was a mistake, it had nothing to do with that kind of behavior.
I know nothing. I did nothing.
H
Host0:51
Well, Melinda said that Bill needs to answer to questions about these allegations. As we keep saying, they all need to answer about these allegations. And do you think his denials in the interview are enough?
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Co-Panelist1:04
No, I mean, you know, people can read what the Department of Justice itself released in terms of the Epstein files and Bill Gates. It's written right in the emails, and I do think that he needs to answer to it. It's unfortunate that Melinda Gates has said, 'I had to leave my marriage in part because of his association with Jeffrey Epstein.' And I think that is a pretty big statement. They have three children together. They're married 27 years, three children together. And the fact that someone says, I understand that Bill Gates is denying the Epstein email and says that they are completely false. They were released by the Justice Department and I think he should answer too. I like when they say, 'I was not on the island.' As if that's the only place any of this stuff could happen.
His homes, they were spooky. Everyone describes him, including Melinda Gates, as 'I regretted it from the second I stepped in the door when she met Epstein. He was abhorrent. He was evil personified. I had nightmares about it afterwards.'
And she only met him once.
And yeah, well, Howard Letically said on a podcast recently that Epstein was quote, 'The greatest blackmailer ever.' So, I do believe there are people probably wrapped up in this that could explain, and it doesn't incriminate everyone. We know that. But it has to see the light of day because it's people that are associated with this that have so much power. They're men aside from the money. Yes. And not accountable. So if you're embarrassed by the things you did, that is the least of anyone's concerns. There were women, hundreds and thousands of women abused that will never get that part of them, girls, excuse me, teenagers that will never get that broken part back. And that let them be embarrassed. Let them talk in front of people. Air it all out.
I also, it also just, I know this is by no means the big takeaway of this, but it does bring me back to a lesson like my mom always taught us, which is like money doesn't buy happiness. Some of the men caught up in this are some of the most powerful, politically connected, wealthy men on the planet. And you see how despite their accomplishments, they're lonely. They're turning to the darkest corners for satisfaction. They're turning to victimizing women. And it's just so gross to me when you read through some of these exchanges.
Somebody said they're willing to, somebody once said, 'Behind all great wealth is a great crime.'
Right. The beginning of that is because they can.
Because they can. And because they were able to get away with it for so long because they protected each other.
And not only did they protect each other, but we were complicit in all of this.
We are complicit because I'm going to tell you how women didn't say, 'Hey, don't do that. Don't stand up for that. Don't get...' Women did not stand up for other women. Women saw what was going on and didn't say, 'Stop this.'
They didn't come out and say, 'This is going on.' Well, yeah. You know, and what do you mean we? I mean, I was... I mean women because listen, for years men had the ability, men thought that it was okay to treat women this way. We see it on television all the time. We see people see all of the... and until we stand up, until women stand up and say, 'Hey, never again, not anymore.'
Well, Melinda's not putting up with it. Lady Gates is not.
When the victims are being very brave.
Well, they are being beyond brave because they're standing up where other women are not.
And that's the point here. Everybody has to take some responsibility for this because unless you recognize what it meant, what they did to these girls, you're not going to care.
It's important that you recognize what's going on here. It's so important. And just to be clear, you know who Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton and Bill Gates all said they did not go to the island again.
Yeah.
Was there, were there other places to go besides the island?
Well, I guess they're saying it. We weren't there.
Yeah. So, you have to figure out the other places.
Said that she was not involved in any criminal behavior.
No. And she wasn't. But you know, this is how these people roll.
This is just to make a mockery for me. This is a mockery that they're making to make people feel bad and to scare people.
But the girls are not scared. Yeah, the girls in...