Bill Gates’ dire warning: U.S. could lose its global leadership role under Trump

Tech pioneer Bill Gates thinks the U.S. can keep its historically influential role as a global leader.

But for a second year in a row, he cautioned that the nation risks losing its geopolitical clout if the Trump administration succeeds in slashing foreign aid, as proposed Monday in a new federal budget that prioritizes a jump in military spending. Last year, the White House tried to reduce foreign aid by one-third, but Congress did not approve the cuts.

"I hope we can keep our reputation in a deserved way," Gates said in a phone interview in late January as talk of U.S. budget cuts rumbled.

If the U.S. diminishes its role providing aid to poor countries, it could both disappoint allies and allow rival superpowers to step in and exert their influence overseas, he says.

Marco della Cava, USA TODAY

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/02/13/bill-gates-warns-china-other-powers-fill-void-if-u-s-foreign-aid-cuts-could-cede-leadership-china-ot/322177002/