Trump Ditches WHO: ‘They’re Ripping Us Off!’ U.S to Cut Ties and Stop Funding
The United States will officially leave the World Health Organization (WHO) in 12 months, President Donald Trump announced Monday, citing the agency’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health crises as the primary reason.
Trump accused the WHO of failing to act independently due to “political interference from member states” and criticized the “unfair financial burden” placed on the U.S. compared to countries like China. “The WHO and the world have been taking advantage of us. That ends today,” Trump declared while signing an executive order to formalize the exit during his second term’s inauguration.
The decision will halt all U.S. funding to the WHO, which currently accounts for about 18% of the organization’s $6.8 billion 2024-2025 budget. Experts warn the move could jeopardize critical programs, including efforts to combat tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other health emergencies worldwide.
The order also halts U.S. involvement in negotiations for the WHO’s pandemic treaty, recalls American staff from the organization, and seeks alternative partnerships to continue essential health initiatives. Additionally, the administration plans to revise the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy.
The WHO, which has not yet responded to the announcement, has faced sharp criticism from Trump since 2020 when he accused it of helping China mislead the world about COVID-19’s origins. Although WHO denies these claims, it continues to pressure Beijing for data on the virus’s emergence.
During Trump’s first term, he suspended U.S. contributions to the WHO, costing the agency $200 million during the pandemic. A similar withdrawal attempt in 2020 was blocked by President Joe Biden, who reversed the decision immediately after taking office.
The U.S. exit leaves Germany as the largest national donor, contributing around 3% of WHO’s budget, with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, among other top donors.
Trump Ditches WHO: ‘They’re Ripping Us Off!’ U.S to Cut Ties and Stop Funding
