Trump Pulls US Out of World Health Organization Again, Amid Criticisms of Hypocrisy

The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move that has been met with widespread criticism and accusations of hypocrisy. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, formally terminating the US membership in the WHO, effective immediately.

This is not the first time Trump has withdrawn the US from the WHO. In July 2020, he announced his intention to leave the organization, citing concerns over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, his decision was met with opposition from health experts and world leaders, who argued that the move would undermine global health efforts.

After Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he quickly reversed Trump's executive order, reinstating US support for the WHO. However, Trump's return to office in his second term saw him swiftly signing another executive order to withdraw from the organization.

Critics have accused Trump of hypocrisy, pointing out that he has repeatedly attacked the WHO in public, while privately acknowledging the importance of the organization. As Devi Sridhar notes, "Trump attacks it in public, but in private he knows he still needs it."

The WHO plays a critical role in global health efforts, providing technical assistance, setting international health standards, and coordinating responses to health crises. The organization has been instrumental in responding to outbreaks such as Ebola, SARS, and COVID-19, and its work has saved countless lives.

The US withdrawal from the WHO has significant implications for global health efforts. The country is one of the largest contributors to the WHO, providing around 15% of its funding. This loss of funding will likely have a devastating impact on the organization's ability to respond to health crises, particularly in low-income countries.

Moreover, the US withdrawal from the WHO undermines the global response to pandemics. The WHO relies on its member states to share data, coordinate responses, and provide technical assistance. Without the US, the organization's ability to respond effectively to pandemics will be severely compromised.

Trump's decision to withdraw from the WHO has been met with widespread criticism from health experts, world leaders, and civil society organizations. Many have expressed concern that the move will have far-reaching consequences for global health, and that it will undermine the progress made in recent years in responding to health crises.

In the UK, politicians such as Nigel Farage have also been critical of the WHO, echoing Trump's concerns over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, experts argue that such criticisms are misplaced, and that the WHO has played a vital role in responding to the pandemic.

As the US formally leaves the WHO, the global health community is left to wonder what the implications will be. One thing is certain, however: the move will have significant consequences for global health efforts, and will undermine the progress made in recent years in responding to health crises.

Sources:
* Devi Sridhar, "Trump has pulled the US out of the World Health Organization – here’s why that’s sheer hypocrisy"
* The Guardian, "US officially notifies World Health Organization of its withdrawal"
* US Department of Health and Human Services, "Fact Sheet: US Withdrawal from the World Health Organization"