Washington: Donald Trump is planning to sever the US’ ties with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in his first major decision when he takes on the reins as the US President on January 20, 2025, on Inauguration Day. Trump’s transition has already started the process of formally withdrawing, the Financial Times has reported.
As the largest single donor to the WHO, the U.S. provided 16% of its funding for the 2022-2023 period. A sudden withdrawal could leave a substantial gap in global health financing and leadership, potentially impacting the management of future public health crises.
Why Trump wants to withdraw from WHO?
Trump’s motivation for the withdrawal arises from his criticism of the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its alleged ties to China. In a statement from his administration, Trump claimed, “Unfortunately, the World Health Organisation has failed badly… not only in its response to COVID-19 but to other health crises in recent decades.” He stressed the need for the WHO to demonstrate independence from the Chinese Communist Party, the report said.
The proposed withdrawal would reverse President Joe Biden’s decision to rejoin the WHO, which he enacted on his first day in office in 2021.
Analysts have expressed concerns about the implications of the U.S. withdrawal. Lawrence Gostin, a global health law professor at Georgetown University, warned that it would leave a “huge vacuum” in global health financing and leadership, describing the potential decision as “catastrophic” for the organization’s ability to respond to public health crises, the report added.
Ashish Jha, former COVID response coordinator under Biden, echoed these sentiments, stating that U.S. disengagement would hinder global health surveillance and preparedness for future pandemics. He cautioned, “If you’re not engaged in these institutions, you do not have ears to the ground when the next outbreak happens.”
While some in Trump’s camp advocate for reforming the WHO from within, proponents of complete withdrawal appear to dominate the conversation, suggesting that the exit is likely to proceed.
