Trump administration considers WHO withdrawal after inauguration

The team of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump insists on Washington withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the day he takes office as President on January 20, a Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

Experts warn that the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO would strip the organization of its primary source of funding and weaken its capacity to manage global emergencies.

Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator under the Biden administration, remarked that many in President-elect Trump’s inner circle see Washington’s departure from the WHO on his first day in office as a symbolic gesture. He added that while some members of Trump’s team advocated for reforming the WHO with U.S. participation, those favoring a complete break from the organization held more sway.

In 2020, Trump announced that Washington intended to completely terminate its relationship with the WHO, citing the organization’s leadership’s refusal to implement the reforms demanded by the U.S. administration. Trump also accused the WHO of allegedly being entirely under China’s control. According to Trump, the Chinese authorities and WHO leadership failed to take adequate measures in response to the spread of the coronavirus. Biden reversed Trump’s decision after taking office as U.S. President in 2021.

Previously, Kazinform News Agency reported that President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to abandon transgender-focused policies in the military, schools, and sports on the first day of his administration.