Trump Orders US Exit From The World Health Organization

President Donald Trump has announced the United States’ decision to leave the World Health Organization (WHO), citing alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic and undue political influence within the global health agency. The announcement, made Monday, followed Trump’s signing of an executive order shortly after his second-term inauguration.

Trump criticized the WHO for requiring disproportionately high contributions from the U.S. compared to other countries, particularly China. “World Health ripped us off; everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen anymore,” he declared. The decision halts U.S. financial contributions, which accounted for roughly 18% of the WHO’s $6.8 billion budget for 2024-2025, and initiates a one-year withdrawal process.

China, in response, emphasized its continued support for the WHO, urging stronger global health governance. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reaffirmed the importance of the organization’s role in international health collaboration.

The U.S. exit raises concerns about the future of critical WHO programs addressing tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and health emergencies, with experts warning of potential setbacks in global health efforts. Trump’s order also ends negotiations on the WHO pandemic treaty and calls for a review of the U.S. Global Health Security Strategy.

This move echoes Trump’s previous attempts to withdraw from the WHO in 2020 during his first term, when he accused the agency of aiding China in obscuring the origins of COVID-19. However, the effort was reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021.

The withdrawal leaves significant funding gaps, with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Commission, and Germany among the WHO’s remaining major contributors. As the U.S. prepares its exit, the global health landscape faces uncertainty, risking the continuity of vital public health programs.

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