Today: 9 May 2025
20 January 2025
1 min read

Trump Cuts Ties with WHO, Cites Pandemic Mishandling

President Donald Trump took a bold step on Monday by announcing the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) on his first day back in office. This decision, which comes as a continuation of his longstanding criticism of the UN’s public health body, signals a dramatic shift in US global health policy.

The official executive order, signed by Trump, condemns the WHO for its mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly its response to the outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China. The order also criticizes the WHO for failing to implement necessary reforms and for its perceived political influence from member states, which Trump argued compromised the agency’s independence.

Trump remarked that the move was a significant one, citing his belief that the US had been unfairly burdened with excessive financial contributions to the organization compared to other nations. The order also claims that the WHO continues to demand “unfairly onerous payments” from the United States.

This latest development follows Trump’s initial move in 2020 to begin the withdrawal process from the WHO, although his successor, President Joe Biden, reversed the decision six months later. Trump has repeatedly criticized the WHO for failing to hold China accountable for the early spread of Covid-19 and has described the agency as a “puppet of Beijing.” He has vowed to redirect the US contributions to domestic health initiatives.

As part of his new administration’s health policy, Trump has nominated several critics of the WHO, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, for the role of Secretary of Health and Human Services. This department oversees major US health agencies, including the CDC and FDA.

A spokesperson for the WHO declined to directly address Trump’s decision but referred to a December statement by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. During a press briefing, Tedros expressed confidence that the US would come to a final agreement on a pandemic response pact by May 2025.

Critics have warned that the US withdrawal could weaken global disease surveillance and emergency response systems, hindering efforts to combat future health crises.

ALSO READ-Trump Declares National Energy Emergency to Boost Oil and Gas Production

Previous Story

Trump Sworn In as 47th President of USA

Next Story

Legal Battle Looms Over Trump’s Controversial Birthright Citizenship Order

Latest from -Top News

UAE calls for calm

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, urged Inda and Pakistan to “exercise restraint” and avoid further escalation that could imperil regional and global peace The United Arab

India Strikes Terror Bases in Pakistan

‘Justice is served’, says Indian Army as Operation Sindoor unfolds In a significant military response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives, the Indian Army on Wednesday

UAE Reopens Doors to Lebanon

The prime minister expressed Lebanon’s “utmost gratitude and appreciation to the UAE” and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan….reports Asian Lite News Lebanon welcomed the decision by the United Arab Emirates

SYRIA RAIDS: Arab League Slams Israel

The Arab League condemned the airstrikes and called on the international community and the United Nations to confront what it described as “repeated violations committed by Israel against the Syrian state.” The

India Rises, Africa Watches 

While struggling economies in Africa engulf themselves in ideological battles and take sides in the tariff battles, nations like India are placing their national interest first and navigating Global Trade challenges in
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Trump is back on Facebook after 2 year ban

Meta, on January 7, 2021, suspended Trump’s Facebook and Instagram

‘Covid-19 killed 1,15,000 health workers’

WHO chief lamented that so many healthcare workers lost their