Nearly 15 Million Deaths Are Linked to COVID-19, World Health Organization Says
TimeJan 23, 2022
Trump Orders US Withdrawal From WHO
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Above: Pres. Donald Trump signs executive orders in the oval office on Jan. 20, 2025. Image copyright: Anna Moneymaker/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
US Pres. Donald Trump on Monday ordered the US's withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). The UN health agency's biggest financial backer will cease all contributions to the body and exit the group in 12 months’ time.
Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th US president on Monday, signed an executive order to this effect while stating that the WHO “ripped us off.” He also criticized its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
Trump's move threatens to destabilize global health security by stripping the WHO of one-fifth of its budget and vital American expertise. This could cripple crucial programs fighting AIDS, polio, and tuberculosis while weakening worldwide pandemic surveillance and response capabilities. The vacuum left by the US departure may increase Chinese influence, even as poorer nations struggle with reduced access to vaccines, treatments, and technical assistance for public health emergencies.
Pro-Trump narrative
Withdrawing from the WHO reflects a principled stand against an organization that failed its scientific duties during COVID-19. Despite receiving billions in US funding, the WHO pushed draconian policies like lockdowns and child masking, without conducting rigorous studies to validate their effectiveness. Rather than generating evidence-based guidance, the WHO offered opinions aligning with left-leaning politics, effectively undermining its credibility as an impartial health authority.
