Melinda Gates: "Biden is a Leader with Awareness of Women's Issues"

US Presidential Election Biden Expresses Support
Criticizes Trump for "Deprivation of Freedom"

Melinda French Gates, the ex-wife of Microsoft (MS) co-founder Bill Gates, has expressed her support for President Joe Biden in the upcoming U.S. presidential election this November. She believes that the United States needs a leader who, like President Biden, is aware of issues concerning women and families.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

On the 20th (local time), Melinda Gates wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "I have never supported any presidential candidate before," but added, "However, this year's election could have very significant consequences for women and families, so I cannot remain silent." She continued, "I will vote for President Biden," emphasizing, "Women deserve leaders who care about the issues they face and who strive for their safety, health, economic rights, reproductive rights, as well as their free and safe participation in democracy."

On the other hand, she raised critical voices against former President Donald Trump. In an article contributed to CNN's website on the same day, Melinda Gates claimed that during his first term, former President Trump not only endangered women's health but also stripped away their safety and essential freedoms. She pointed out that he promoted restrictions on Title X (a federal family planning program), created a hostile atmosphere toward female public officials through divisive and violent rhetoric, and spread threats against election officials, most of whom are women.

Melinda Gates also criticized former President Trump's stance on women's abortion rights. She argued that Trump deliberately appointed Supreme Court justices who would overturn the Roe v. Wade decision, resulting in widespread and disastrous consequences for women and families. The Roe v. Wade ruling was a landmark 1973 decision that constitutionally guaranteed abortion rights in American society, recognizing abortion as legal up to six months of pregnancy.

However, in 2022, the conservative-majority federal Supreme Court overturned this ruling, and Trump has referred to himself as "the person who proudly ended it," citing his appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices. In response, President Biden has made restoring the Roe v. Wade decision a key pledge for his re-election campaign.

Meanwhile, Melinda Gates divorced Bill Gates in 2021 and stepped down as co-chair of the charitable organization 'Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation' last month. She has announced that she will use the $12.5 billion (approximately 17.4 trillion KRW) settlement she received upon leaving the foundation for activities supporting women and families.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.