United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). The decision, executed on his first day back in office, has sparked both domestic and international concern.
“This is a big one,” Trump remarked as he signed the order in the Oval Office, signaling his administration’s intention to cut ties with the Geneva-based health agency. The move is a repeat of his 2020 decision to pull the US out of the WHO during his first term, a decision later reversed by President Joe Biden.
Trump’s criticism of the WHO is rooted in its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he described as heavily influenced by China. The executive order cited multiple reasons for the withdrawal, including the WHO’s failure to adopt necessary reforms, perceived political bias, and “unfairly onerous payments” made by the US to the organization.
“The WHO wanted us back so badly, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said, hinting at a possible reconsideration in the future.
Under Biden’s administration, the US resumed its role as the largest contributor to the WHO, accounting for nearly 20% of its $6.8 billion annual budget in 2023. Trump, however, has repeatedly accused the organization of being “China-centric” and ineffective in addressing global health crises, including the pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China.
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The decision has drawn sharp criticism from public health experts, who warn of dire consequences. Ashish Jha, a former COVID-19 response coordinator under Biden, warned that the withdrawal could undermine US leadership and hinder global efforts to combat diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
Lawrence Gostin, a prominent global health expert, called the decision “cataclysmic,” stating, “Withdrawal is a grievous wound to world health, but an even deeper wound to the US.”
As the US takes steps to formalize its departure, questions loom about the impact on global health initiatives and America’s role in addressing future pandemics. While Trump’s decision reflects his administration’s America-first policy, critics argue that isolating the US from the world’s leading health agency could have lasting repercussions.
