Trump's Call to Leave WHO: What It Means

President Trump has signed an order to withdraw the U. S. from the World Health Organization (WHO). This move could cut a significant chunk of the WHO's funding, as the U. S. is one of its largest contributors. The reason given by the White House is that the WHO demands too much money from the U. S. compared to other countries. Trump believes the U. S. has been taken advantage of and wants to stop it. The WHO is a key player in global health, fighting diseases like HIV and polio. It's also responding to current outbreaks of cholera, dengue, mpox, and the Marburg virus. A U. S. exit could leave the WHO short on funds.

This isn't the first time Trump has tried to pull the U. S. out of the WHO. During his first term, he accused it of being too friendly with China during the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak. Health advocates and Democratic lawmakers criticized this move, seeing it as a way for Trump to shift blame for his administration's handling of the pandemic. The order also calls for a pause in future U. S. funding to the WHO and a review of the U. S. Global Health Security Strategy. However, the legality of a president withdrawing from the WHO without Congress's approval is uncertain. When the U. S. joined the WHO in 1948, it agreed to give a year's notice before leaving and to pay all its dues. President Biden reversed Trump's attempt to leave the WHO when he took office in 2021.

Actions