President Donald Trump announced the U.S. was pulling its funding for the World Health Organization on Tuesday, sparking criticism from experts and world leaders.
Addressing reporters from the White House Rose Garden, Trump criticized the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and said the organization took China’s assurances and “misinformation” about the virus, “at face value.”
“The reality is that the WHO failed to adequately obtain, vet, and share information in a timely and transparent fashion,” Trump said about his decision.
Trump’s move to halt funding came despite pushback from his own administration and health advisors, Reuters reported. The announcement also comes after Trump himself has praised China’s transparency, tweeting on Jan. 24: “China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”
The U.S. contributed more than $400 million to the WHO in 2019, the wire service noted, or about 15 percent of the organization’s total budget.
Rather than fund the WHO right now, Trump said “for the time being we will redirect global health and directly work with others.”
Nearly 2 million people have been diagnosed with confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world, including more than 600,000 in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University’s tracking of the virus. More than 128,000 people have died worldwide.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said support for the WHO was “absolutely critical” to fighting the virus. Reuters noted the WHO has asked for more than $1 billion to help fight the coronavirus.
“This virus is unprecedented in our lifetime and requires an unprecedented response,” Guterres said in a statement on Tuesday, adding: “now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences.”
FABRICE COFFRINI/Getty
World leaders continued to blast the decision, urging the U.S. to reconsider.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Reuters her country would continue to contribute to the WHO. “At a time like this when we need to be sharing information and we need to have advice we can rely on, the WHO has provided that,” she said.
Josep Borrell, the chief of foreign policy for the EU, said in a tweet “There is no reason justifying this move at a moment when their efforts are needed more than ever to help contain & mitigate the #coronavirus pandemic. Only by joining forces we can overcome this crisis that knows no borders.”
For it’s part, China disagreed with the decision, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian telling Reuters the U.S. should continue its contributions, adding: “This decision weakens the WHO’s capability and harms international cooperation.”
Click here for the most recent updates on coronavirus from Travel + Leisure.
President Donald Trump announced the U.S. was pulling its funding for the World Health Organization on Tuesday, sparking criticism from experts and world leaders.
Addressing reporters from the White House Rose Garden, Trump criticized the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and said the organization took China’s assurances and “misinformation” about the virus, “at face value.”
“The reality is that the WHO failed to adequately obtain, vet, and share information in a timely and transparent fashion,” Trump said about his decision.
Trump’s move to halt funding came despite pushback from his own administration and health advisors, Reuters reported. The announcement also comes after Trump himself has praised China’s transparency, tweeting on Jan. 24: “China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!”
The U.S. contributed more than $400 million to the WHO in 2019, the wire service noted, or about 15 percent of the organization’s total budget.
Rather than fund the WHO right now, Trump said “for the time being we will redirect global health and directly work with others.”
Nearly 2 million people have been diagnosed with confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world, including more than 600,000 in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University’s tracking of the virus. More than 128,000 people have died worldwide.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said support for the WHO was “absolutely critical” to fighting the virus. Reuters noted the WHO has asked for more than $1 billion to help fight the coronavirus.
“This virus is unprecedented in our lifetime and requires an unprecedented response,” Guterres said in a statement on Tuesday, adding: “now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences.”
World leaders continued to blast the decision, urging the U.S. to reconsider.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Reuters her country would continue to contribute to the WHO. “At a time like this when we need to be sharing information and we need to have advice we can rely on, the WHO has provided that,” she said.
Josep Borrell, the chief of foreign policy for the EU, said in a tweet “There is no reason justifying this move at a moment when their efforts are needed more than ever to help contain & mitigate the #coronavirus pandemic. Only by joining forces we can overcome this crisis that knows no borders.”
For it’s part, China disagreed with the decision, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian telling Reuters the U.S. should continue its contributions, adding: “This decision weakens the WHO’s capability and harms international cooperation.”
Click here for the most recent updates on coronavirus from Travel + Leisure.
