Trump will pull out of WHO on day 1 in office: Report

[KARAH RUCKER]

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP PLANS TO PULL THE U-S OUT OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ON DAY ONE OF HIS NEW ADMINISTRATION ON JANUARY 20TH.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT FROM THE FINANCIAL TIMES.

IT’S SOMETHING TRUMP MOVED TO DO IN HIS FIRST TERM AFTER PUSHING FOR W-H-O REFORMS –

BUT SOME GLOBAL HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE WARNING AGAINST IT.

THE DEPARTURE OF THE U-S FROM THE GLOBAL HEALTH BODY WOULD ELIMINATE THE AGENCY’S LARGEST SINGLE DONOR.

THE U-S REPORTEDLY PROVIDED AROUND 16 PERCENT OF THE W-H-O’S FUNDING FROM 2022 TO 2023.

PROFESSOR OF GLOBAL HEALTH AT GEORGETOWN LAW, LAWRENCE GOSTIN, TOLD THE FINANCIAL TIMES AMERICA’S ABSENCE WOULD CREATE A “HUGE VACUUM IN GLOBAL HEALTH FINANCING AND LEADERSHIP.”

HE SAYS IT WILL HURT THE W-H-O’S ABILITY TO RESPOND TO HEALTH EMERGENCIES AND LEAD TO CUTS AMONG “SCIENTIFIC STAFF.”

GLOBAL HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE W-H-O IS CRITICAL TO VACCINE DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION AS WELL AS OTHER TREATMENTS DURING GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES.

GOSTIN SAYS A WITHDRAWAL WILL LIKELY HAMPER THE U-S’ RESPONSE TO ANY POTENTIAL PANDEMICS AS WELL.

NOTING, AMERICA WOULD BE WITHOUT A KEY SOURCE OF INFORMATION “WHEN THE NEXT OUTBREAK OCCURS.” 

BUT TRUMP’S TEAM SEES IT DIFFERENTLY – CRITICAL OF THE ORGANIZATION IN HIS FIRST TERM.

TRUMP TRIED TO LEAD A U-S EXODUS FROM THE W-H-O IN 2020 –

BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF LEAVING THE ORGANIZATION DURING COVID-19.

AT THE TIME – HE ACCUSED THE AGENCY OF BEING UNDER THE CONTROL OF BEIJING AND CRITICIZED ITS RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC. 

TRUMP SENT THIS FOUR PAGE LETTER TO THE WHO DIRECTOR – SUSPENDING FUNDS.

[DONALD TRUMP]

WE WILL BE TODAY TERMINATING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND REDIRECTING THOSE FUNDS TO OTHER WORLDWIDE AND DESERVING URGENT GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS. 

[KARAH RUCKER]

WHILE DETAILS IN **HOW TRUMP’S NEW ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO HANDLE ITS REPORTED WITHDRAWAL FROM THE W-H-O ARE UNKNOWN – 

IN HIS FIRST ATTEMPT TO DIVERT FUNDS ELSEWHERE – TRUMP’S TEAM SAID THE U.S. WOULD CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN “CRITICAL MEETINGS” WITH THE ORGANIZATION – BUT WOULD DIVERT FUNDS TO MORE “CREDIBLE AND TRANSPARENT” WORLD HEALTH AGENCIES WHO COULD QUOTE “DEMONSTRATE THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM CHINA.”

AT THE TIME – REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SUPPORTED THE DECISION FOR THE U.S. TO WITHDRAW FROM THE W-H-O – SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY POSTING ON X THE WHO “MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.”

HOWEVER – THE PROCESS WAS NEVER COMPLETED AND HIS SUCCESSOR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN RESTARTED RELATIONS WITH THE W-H-O ON DAY ONE IN OFFICE… JUST MONTHS LATER.

THOSE FAMILIAR WITH TRUMP’S CURRENT PLANS SAY THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION WILL MOVE MUCH FASTER THIS TIME TO WITHDRAW FROM THE AGENCY.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.