The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said it “regrets” President Trump’s move to withdraw from the global health authority, saying it hopes the U.S. will reconsider the decision.
President Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term announcing his intent to withdraw from the WHO, citing what he referred to as “the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises.”
This was not the first time Trump has moved to withdraw from the WHO, having previously attempted to do the same in 2020. Former President Biden rejoined the organization before the one-year waiting period for withdrawal concluded.
In a statement Tuesday, the WHO said it “regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organization.”
“The United States was a founding member of WHO in 1948 and has participated in shaping and governing WHO’s work ever since, alongside 193 other Member States, including through its active participation in the World Health Assembly and Executive Board,” the WHO stated.
“For over seven decades, WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats,” it added. “Together, we ended smallpox, and together we have brought polio to the brink of eradication. American institutions have contributed to and benefited from membership of WHO.”
Roughly one-fifth of the WHO’s budget comes from the U.S., about $1.28 billion. While the WHO would lose American dollars through the withdrawal, the U.S. would lose access to the WHO’s resources, such as global data.
“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe,” the WHO added.
