According to Stat News, Gates, who intends to back innovative scientists financially so they can invent a universal flu vaccine, got Trump excited about the potential of the vaccine, then he asked the President why the position of the White House science advisor still remains unoccupied.
In response, Trump asked Gates if he wanted the job, to which Gates replied, "That's not a good use of my time."
The role of White House science advisor remains unfilled up to this point. Trump is the first president in more than half a century, since President John F. Kennedy, who hasn't nominated a science advisor in the first year of his term. It's unknown whether Trump will ever nominate anyone.
The last scientific advisor to grace the White House, John Holdren, served President Obama for eight years. The science advisor vacancy is surely better filled by a practicing scientist. And Bill Gates is a computer programmer, philanthropist, celebrity, businessman... But he's not technically a scientist.
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