On Monday, President Donald Trump officially signed an executive order announcing the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), criticizing the global health agency for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises.
Trump’s decision to exit the WHO comes after a prolonged period of tension between the U.S. and the organization, which the president has repeatedly accused of being unduly influenced by political agendas, particularly from its member states. According to Trump, the WHO failed to act independently, and its management of the global health crisis lacked the necessary accountability.
“The World Health Organization has mishandled the COVID pandemic. They’ve allowed political influence to distort their actions,” Trump remarked during the signing of the order. He also pointed out that the U.S. had been burdened by “unfairly onerous payments” to the organization, payments that were disproportionately high compared to the contributions of other major nations, such as China. “World Health ripped us off, everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen anymore,” Trump stated firmly.
As a result of this move, the U.S. will officially withdraw from the WHO in 12 months. This exit means that the country will cease all financial contributions to the organization, which has long been the WHO’s largest financial contributor. The U.S. has provided about 18% of the organization’s overall funding, amounting to billions of dollars. For the two-year budget period from 2024-2025, the WHO had set a budget of $6.8 billion.
This is not the first time that Trump has attempted to sever ties with the World Health Organization. Back in 2020, during his first term in office, the president made moves to withdraw from the organization, accusing it of being complicit in China’s efforts to mislead the world about the origins of COVID-19. He argued that the WHO had been too lenient with China, failing to challenge the country’s lack of transparency regarding the outbreak.
In response, the WHO has strongly denied these allegations. The organization continues to call for greater cooperation from China to help determine the origins of the virus, which remains a subject of global investigation. WHO officials have insisted that they are pressing Beijing to share relevant data to clarify whether the virus emerged through human contact with infected animals or due to research involving similar viruses in a domestic laboratory.
Trump’s decision to withdraw from the WHO has significant implications, both for the global health community and for the United States’ role in international diplomacy. Critics of the decision argue that the move could undermine global health efforts and hinder collective action on health crises such as pandemics. Many international health experts believe that the WHO plays a critical role in coordinating responses to health emergencies and in providing guidance to nations, especially in times of global health challenges.
In addition, health advocates warn that pulling out of the WHO could isolate the U.S. from international efforts to combat diseases and advance health equity worldwide. As the largest financial contributor, the U.S.’s withdrawal is likely to create a substantial financial gap in the WHO’s operations, particularly in funding efforts to address health inequities, combat disease outbreaks, and support global immunization campaigns.
The move also occurs amid rising concerns over global health security, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect millions worldwide, and other health threats loom on the horizon. Some observers have questioned whether this decision aligns with the U.S.’s interests in a globally interconnected world, where health threats do not recognize borders.
In light of Trump’s announcement, public health organizations, political leaders, and civil rights advocates have already voiced their concern, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration on public health. Despite these concerns, Trump remains resolute, reiterating that his decision is in the best interests of the United States, its citizens, and its sovereignty.
This latest executive action reflects broader themes of American nationalism and skepticism of multilateral organizations that have been central to Trump’s presidency. However, it remains to be seen how this move will affect the U.S.’s standing on the world stage and its relationships with other countries, particularly in the fight against future health crises.
While the long-term effects of this decision are still unclear, it is certain that the United States’ departure from the WHO will resonate far beyond the walls of Washington.
