The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has pushed back against United States President Donald Trump’s reasons for withdrawing the United States from the global health body.
Speaking on Monday, Tedros addressed each of the concerns outlined in Trump’s executive order, signed immediately upon his return to office on January 20.
As the WHO’s largest donor, the U.S. exit significantly impacts the organization’s funding and its capacity to tackle international health crises.
Tedros expressed regret over the decision and appealed for reconsideration, stating, “We regret the decision and we hope the US will reconsider.”
Reforms and Financial Contributions
Countering Trump’s claim that WHO had failed to implement “urgently needed reforms,” Tedros argued that the organization had undergone its most comprehensive transformation in recent years.
“Over the past seven years, the WHO has implemented ‘the deepest and most wide-ranging reforms in the organisation’s history,’” he stated.
He also refuted the assertion that WHO imposes “unfairly onerous payments” on the United States.
According to Tedros, WHO has been working to expand its donor base to reduce dependence on a few major contributors.
He emphasized that shifting reliance from voluntary contributions to more consistent membership fees would help address financial imbalances.
COVID-19 Response and Political Independence
Responding to Trump’s charge that WHO mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic, Tedros highlighted the organization’s swift action from the moment early reports of a “viral pneumonia” surfaced in China.
He pointed out that WHO acted promptly to alert the world, provide guidance, and implement protective measures.
“Of course, there would be challenges and weaknesses,” he admitted. However, he assured that the WHO has since taken steps to address these issues, including the creation of the Pandemic Fund, the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub, and ongoing negotiations for a new pandemic agreement among member states.
Trump’s executive order also accused WHO of lacking independence from political influence.
Tedros firmly rejected this, asserting that the organization remains neutral and committed to serving all countries.
“When they make demands on the agency which are ‘not supported by scientific evidence… we say no, politely,’” he clarified.
Despite the tensions, Tedros maintained that WHO remains dedicated to global public health and hopes the U.S. will reconsider its departure.
