- This is the second time Trump has attempted to sever ties with the WHO
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing dissatisfaction with its operations and alleged bias towards China.
Speaking at the White House just hours after his inauguration, Trump criticised the UN body over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming, “World Health ripped us off.”
He highlighted what he called an unfair financial burden, stating that the US pays significantly more to the WHO than China.
The United States, historically the largest donor to the Geneva-based organisation, has provided critical funding essential for its global health initiatives. Its departure is expected to prompt major restructuring at the WHO and disrupt ongoing global health efforts.
This is the second time Trump has attempted to sever ties with the WHO. In his first term, he initiated a withdrawal, accusing the organisation of favouring China during the early stages of the pandemic. That decision was reversed by former President Joe Biden.
Under the new executive order, US government agencies are directed to halt future funding to the WHO and identify alternative partners to take on its responsibilities. The administration also announced plans to repeal Biden’s 2024 Global Health Security Strategy, which aimed to strengthen global responses to infectious disease threats.
The move comes amid rising concern over the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, which has infected dozens and caused one death in the United States. Critics fear that withdrawing from the WHO at such a critical time could undermine international efforts to contain future pandemics.
Meanwhile, WHO member states continue negotiations on a global treaty for pandemic preparedness and response, a process now set to proceed without US involvement.
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