WHO Chief Counters Trump Criticisms Behind US Pullout

The World Health Organization’s director-general responded on Monday to US President Donald Trump’s reasons for withdrawing the United States from the WHO, urging the US to reconsider its decision.

As the WHO’s largest contributor, the US’s exit will create a significant budget gap and undermine the organization’s ability to tackle global health challenges.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the reasons outlined in Trump’s executive order to leave the WHO, signed shortly after Trump’s return to office on January 20, and explained what the WHO had been doing in each area.

“We regret the decision and hope the US will reconsider,” Tedros stated at the start of the WHO’s executive board meeting.

Tedros disputed Trump’s claim that the WHO had failed to adopt necessary reforms. He pointed out that, over the past seven years, the WHO had implemented the most extensive reforms in its history.

Regarding Trump’s assertion that the WHO imposes “unfairly onerous payments” on the US, Tedros highlighted the organization’s efforts to diversify its donor base.

Tedros also mentioned that moving away from reliance on voluntary contributions, which make up the majority of the WHO’s funding, towards more regular membership fees would reduce dependence on major donors.

In response to Trump’s accusation of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic, Tedros emphasized the WHO’s rapid response to the early indications of a “viral pneumonia” in China, alerting the world, providing guidance, and working to protect populations.

He acknowledged there were challenges and shortcomings along the way but insisted the WHO had addressed these issues and established new initiatives like the Pandemic Fund and the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub, as well as a new pandemic agreement being negotiated among member states.

Finally, in response to Trump’s claim that the WHO lacked independence from political influence, Tedros defended the organization’s impartiality, stating that the WHO serves all countries fairly but does not support demands that lack scientific evidence, politely declining when necessary.

 

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