Claim: Bill Gates donated $50 million to Democrats in order to avoid being put on trial over his involvement with COVID-19 vaccines.

Fact check: In October 2024, The New York Times reported that Bill Gates had privately donated approximately $50 million to Future Forward USA Action, a nonprofit supporting Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Gates did not publicly confirm the donation, although he told the Times that the 2024 election was different and that he supported candidates committed to issues including health care, climate change and poverty.

The claim that the donation was made to avoid a trial is a separate allegation. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a similar claim in October 2024, saying Gates had donated around $50 million to a group supporting Harris to avoid charges in the United States.

There is no evidence establishing that the donation was made in exchange for avoiding criminal or civil proceedings. The reported donation went to Future Forward USA Action, which supported Harris, and the available reporting does not establish a connection between the donation and any agreement to prevent Gates from facing trial.

Gates was separately involved in a civil case in the Netherlands concerning allegations related to COVID-19 vaccines. An AFP fact check reported that Dutch court proceedings did not require Gates to personally appear in court and that he could be represented by his attorney.

Conclusion: The reported $50 million donation to a nonprofit supporting Harris is supported by contemporary reporting, but the claim that Gates made the donation to avoid a trial is unsupported.