Donald Trump has signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing the agency of mishandling the Covid-19 pandemic and other international health crises. The withdrawal, set to take effect in 12 months, will halt all U.S. financial contributions to the global health body. The United States is the WHO’s largest donor, contributing around 18% of its total funding. The organization’s 2024-2025 budget is $6.8 billion, leaving a significant shortfall due to the U.S. exit.
Trump criticized the WHO for being influenced by political agendas and for imposing what he described as unfair financial demands on the United States. He pointed to disparities in contributions between the U.S. and other nations, including China, as evidence of inequity. “World Health ripped us off. Everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen anymore,” Trump said during the signing, adding that the organization failed to act independently from its member states.
In addition to the withdrawal, Trump issued an executive order pausing foreign development assistance for 90 days pending a review. This marks a broader effort to reevaluate international commitments during his administration. Trump’s criticisms of the WHO are not new. In 2020, during his first term as president, he began steps to pull the U.S. out of the organization, accusing it of aiding China in obscuring the origins of Covid-19. He alleged that the WHO had failed to hold Beijing accountable and claimed it misled the world about the early stages of the pandemic. The WHO has denied these accusations and has continued to call for greater transparency from China, particularly regarding whether Covid-19 originated from human contact with animals or from a lab-related incident.
The decision has provoked a range of reactions domestically and internationally. Critics argue that withdrawing from the WHO could weaken global health initiatives and hinder responses to ongoing and future health emergencies. Public health experts warn that the decision could disrupt vaccination programs and pandemic preparedness worldwide. Supporters of Trump’s move praise it as a step toward demanding greater accountability from international organizations and reducing financial strain on the United States.
The WHO is too big, stale and political. Enough. You made your bed.