WHO defends global health, security role after Trump withdraws

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that it “regretted” President Trump’s move to withdraw from the World Health Organization, adding that it hoped the United States would reconsider the decision.

President Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term announcing his intention to withdraw from the WHO, which he cited as “the agency’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China and other world health crises.”

This is not the first time that Trump has moved to withdraw from the WHO, having previously attempted to do so in 2020. Former President Biden rejoined the agency before the one-year waiting period for withdrawal expired.

In a statement on Tuesday, the WHO said it “regrets the announcement that the United States intends to withdraw from the organization.”

“The United States was a founding member of WHO in 1948 and has since participated in shaping and directing WHO’s work with 193 other member states, including active participation in the World Health Assembly and Executive Board,” WHO said.

“For more than seven decades, WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats,” it added. “Together, we ended smallpox, and together we brought polio to the brink of eradication. American institutions have contributed to and benefited from WHO’s membership.”

About one-fifth of WHO’s budget comes from the United States, about $1.28 billion. Although WHO will lose American dollars through withdrawal, the US will lose access to WHO resources, such as global data.

“We hope the United States will reconsider, and we look forward to participating in constructive discussions to maintain the partnership between the United States and WHO for the health and well-being of millions of people worldwide.”