FT: US might exit WHO on Trump’s inauguration day
Reports indicate that members of the president-elect's team are set to announce a withdrawal from the WHO on January 20. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Members of the president-elect’s team are reportedly planning to announce a withdrawal from the UN health agency on January 20.
According to the Financial Times, the transition team of US President-elect Donald Trump aims to pull the country out of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the first day of the new administration, significantly reducing one of the agency’s major funding sources. Health experts have been informed by members of Trump’s team that the announcement regarding the withdrawal is set for inauguration day. While some team members advocate for remaining in the WHO with a focus on reforming it, a faction committed to severing ties appears to be prevailing.
The transition team is motivated to withdraw from the WHO on day one due to the "symbolism" of counteracting Joe Biden’s actions on his own inauguration day, as noted by Ashish Jha, former White House Covid response coordinator.
On January 20, 2021, Biden resumed relations with the organization after Trump initiated the withdrawal process in response to his criticisms of the WHO's management of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health at Georgetown Law, commented, “America is going to leave a huge vacuum in global health financing and leadership. I see no one that is going to fill the breach.” He added that the plan to withdraw “on day one” would be “catastrophic.”
The WHO serves as a coordinating authority on international health issues and is funded through dues from member states and voluntary contributions. Historically, the US has been one of the organization's most significant donors and is currently the second-largest contributor among its members.
In 2020, Trump accused the WHO of being influenced by China during the pandemic, asserting that Beijing had coerced the organization into “misleading the world” about the virus. He committed to reallocating US funds to other global public health charities.
Under a 1948 Congressional resolution, the US can withdraw from the WHO but must provide a year's notice and settle any outstanding fees. However, the Trump team has not made any direct comments regarding the potential withdrawal.
In November, Trump nominated longtime vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy to serve as the US Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has been a vocal opponent of the WHO-endorsed Covid-19 response measures, including strict lockdowns and the rapid rollout of vaccines. His nomination is still pending approval by the Senate.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
According to the Financial Times, the transition team of US President-elect Donald Trump aims to pull the country out of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the first day of the new administration, significantly reducing one of the agency’s major funding sources. Health experts have been informed by members of Trump’s team that the announcement regarding the withdrawal is set for inauguration day. While some team members advocate for remaining in the WHO with a focus on reforming it, a faction committed to severing ties appears to be prevailing.
The transition team is motivated to withdraw from the WHO on day one due to the "symbolism" of counteracting Joe Biden’s actions on his own inauguration day, as noted by Ashish Jha, former White House Covid response coordinator.
On January 20, 2021, Biden resumed relations with the organization after Trump initiated the withdrawal process in response to his criticisms of the WHO's management of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health at Georgetown Law, commented, “America is going to leave a huge vacuum in global health financing and leadership. I see no one that is going to fill the breach.” He added that the plan to withdraw “on day one” would be “catastrophic.”
The WHO serves as a coordinating authority on international health issues and is funded through dues from member states and voluntary contributions. Historically, the US has been one of the organization's most significant donors and is currently the second-largest contributor among its members.
In 2020, Trump accused the WHO of being influenced by China during the pandemic, asserting that Beijing had coerced the organization into “misleading the world” about the virus. He committed to reallocating US funds to other global public health charities.
Under a 1948 Congressional resolution, the US can withdraw from the WHO but must provide a year's notice and settle any outstanding fees. However, the Trump team has not made any direct comments regarding the potential withdrawal.
In November, Trump nominated longtime vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy to serve as the US Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has been a vocal opponent of the WHO-endorsed Covid-19 response measures, including strict lockdowns and the rapid rollout of vaccines. His nomination is still pending approval by the Senate.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
