President Trump announces the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, citing mismanagement of global health crises and disproportionate financial contributions.
The United States will withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), President Donald Trump announced on Monday. He accused the global health body of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises.
Trump criticized the WHO for failing to operate independently from "the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states" and for imposing "unfairly onerous payments" on the U.S., which he claimed were disproportionate compared to contributions from other major nations, including China.
"World Health ripped us off, everybody rips off the United States. It's not going to happen anymore," Trump stated during the signing of an executive order initiating the withdrawal, which took place shortly after the start of his second term.
In response, the WHO expressed regret over the decision by its largest donor. "We hope that the United States will reconsider, and we really hope that there will be constructive dialogue for the benefit of everyone, for Americans but also for people around the world," said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarević during a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.
The withdrawal triggers a 12-month notice period during which the U.S. will cease financial contributions to the organization. The U.S., which provides approximately 18% of WHO's funding, has been its largest financial backer. WHO’s latest two-year budget for 2024-2025 amounts to $6.8 billion.
Experts both within and outside the WHO warn that the U.S. departure could jeopardize programs addressing major health challenges, including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other emergencies.
The executive order also halts U.S. participation in negotiations on the WHO pandemic treaty during the withdrawal process. U.S. personnel working with the WHO will be reassigned, and the administration will seek new partners to assume responsibilities previously handled by the organization. Additionally, the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy will be reviewed, rescinded, and replaced "as soon as practicable," according to the order.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the second-largest contributor to the WHO, primarily focuses its funding on polio eradication. The foundation’s CEO, Mark Suzman, stated on X that they will continue advocating for a stronger, not weaker, WHO. Germany, the next-largest state donor, contributes about 3% of the organization’s funding. Germany’s health minister expressed hope that Berlin could dissuade Trump from following through with the withdrawal.
When asked about Trump’s decision, China’s foreign ministry reiterated its support for the WHO, emphasizing that its role in global health governance should be strengthened rather than diminished. "China will continue to support the WHO in fulfilling its responsibilities, and deepen international public health cooperation," ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated.
This development is not unprecedented. Trump previously moved to withdraw from the WHO in 2020 during his first term, accusing the organization of aiding China in "misleading the world" about the origins of COVID.
The WHO denies the allegation and continues to push Beijing for data to determine whether COVID originated from human contact with infected animals or from research on similar viruses in a local laboratory.
U.S. law mandates a one-year notice period and payment of any outstanding fees before a withdrawal is finalized. Trump’s previous attempt to leave the WHO was halted when Joe Biden, upon assuming office in January 2021, reversed the decision on his first day.
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