United States of America (USA) President, Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing dissatisfaction with the agency’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises.
The decision, announced shortly after his inauguration on Monday, was accompanied by sharp criticism of the WHO. Trump accused the organization of failing to operate independently of political influences from member states and of imposing disproportionately high financial obligations on the U.S. compared to other major contributors like China.
“World Health has ripped us off. Everyone takes advantage of the United States, but that ends now,” Trump declared.
The move initiates a 12-month process for the U.S. to officially leave the United Nations health agency and cease all financial contributions. Experts both within and outside the WHO have expressed concerns that the U.S. withdrawal could jeopardize numerous global health programs managed by the organization.
Trump’s executive order also mandates the cessation of U.S. participation in negotiations on the WHO pandemic treaty. Additionally, U.S. personnel working with the agency will be recalled and reassigned, while alternative partners will be sought to assume critical WHO functions.
Trump had previously attempted to withdraw from the WHO during his first term in 2020, alleging that the organization had supported China in misleading the international community about COVID-19’s origins. The WHO has denied these allegations, maintaining that it has urged China to share data to clarify whether the virus emerged from natural transmission or a laboratory incident.
