President Donald Trump is issuing an ultimatum to the World Health Organization (WHO) while threatening to permanently cut U.S. funding to the agency if it cannot comply with his demand.
Late Monday evening, the president took to Twitter with a copy of the letter, which was addressed to WHO director, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Trump leveled a series of allegations against the agency, accusing them of failing to heed signs and warnings that signaled the potential severity of the outbreak. Trump also raised concerns about the WHO’s alleged alliance with China.
Due to his ongoing concerns, Trump has threatened to permanently withdraw United States funding for the WHO if “substantive improvements” are not made within the next 30 days. He is also threatening to reconsider the country’s ties with the organization, altogether.
“We do not have time to waste,” Trump wrote.
“That is why it is my duty, as President of the United States, to inform you that, if the World Health Organization does not commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days, I will make my temporary freeze of United States funding to the World Health Organization permanent and reconsider our membership in the organization.”
See Trump’s letter to the WHO below:
This is the letter sent to Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organization. It is self-explanatory! pic.twitter.com/pF2kzPUpDv
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2020
Trump’s letter comes just weeks after he publicly criticized the WHO for its handling of the pandemic. As the United States’ coronavirus cases and the death toll began to surge, Trump became increasingly critical of the global health agency.
The W.H.O. really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look. Fortunately I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 7, 2020
During a White House Coronavirus Press Briefing in April, Trump publicly announced his plan to temporarily freeze U.S. funding to the agency, as previously reported on IJR.
Almost immediately after Trump announced his decision, he was faced with condemnation from world leaders, U.S. lawmakers, and federal agencies.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce openly expressed concern about Trump’s decision, insisting it is “not in U.S. interest” to cut the funding in the middle of a pandemic, as previously reported on IJR.
As of Tuesday morning, there are more than 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States and the death toll has surpassed 90,000.
