July 7, 2020 / Andrew Solender, Forbes Staff
TOPLINE
President Trump on Tuesday officially withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization, which he and conservatives have repeatedly slammed throughout the coronavirus pandemic for alleged misinformation about the virus.
KEY FACTS
- The United Nations health agency has sustained an onslaught of criticism from Trump, who has claimed it failed to quickly obtain and share valuable information, spread incorrect information and is at the beckon-call of China.
- “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,” Trump tweeted in April.
- The administration has also slammed the organization for allegedly criticizing his travel ban, with a White House fact sheet claiming it “made the disastrous decision to oppose travel restrictions from China and other countries—despite applauding travel restrictions within China itself—leading to further spread of the virus internationally.”
- In April, Trump said he would put a hold on U.S. funding to the agency–which accounts for about 15% of its overall funding–and “look at” the agency’s response, before announcing in May he would withdraw altogether.
