On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).
“This is a big one,” Trump remarked after approving the document at the White House. This executive action was among several Trump signed on his first day in office.
This marks the second time Trump has moved to pull the U.S. out of the WHO. The president previously criticized the organization for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and began withdrawal procedures during the crisis. However, President Joe Biden reversed this decision after taking office.
By signing the order on his first day, Trump strengthens the likelihood of a formal U.S. departure from the WHO.
“They wanted us back so badly, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said, possibly hinting at a future return to the organization.
The order states the withdrawal is due to the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the failure to implement necessary reforms, and its inability to remain independent from political pressures from member states. Additionally, the order criticized the “unfairly onerous payments” the U.S. made to the WHO, an agency of the United Nations.
During his previous term, Trump was vocal about the WHO’s alleged “China-centric” response to the pandemic, accusing the organization of showing bias toward China in its guidance.
Under the Biden administration, the U.S. remained the largest financial contributor to the WHO, contributing nearly one-fifth of the agency’s $6.8 billion budget in 2023.
Public health experts have expressed concerns about the consequences of Trump’s decision, warning it could harm global health efforts. They suggest the move could disrupt progress in combating diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
Ashish Jha, former COVID-19 response coordinator under Biden, cautioned that withdrawing from the WHO would “harm not only the health of people worldwide but also U.S. leadership and scientific credibility.”
Global public health expert Lawrence Gostin from Georgetown University called the decision “cataclysmic,” emphasizing that it would be a significant blow to global health and U.S. influence.
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