Trump has long been critical of how the Geneva-based institution handled the Covid-19 pandemic.

Summary

Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) on his first day back in office.

This marks the second time Trump has initiated this process, citing the WHO’s “mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic,” failure to reform, political influence, and “unfairly onerous payments” by the US.

Public health experts warn the move could harm global disease control efforts and US leadership in health innovation.

Under Biden, the US was the WHO’s largest funder, contributing nearly 20% of its $6.8 billion budget in 2023.