The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1948. Its mission is to promote global public health, provide leadership on health matters, shape the health research agenda, set standards for disease prevention, and provide technical support to countries facing health challenges. WHO also coordinates international health responses to global health crises, including pandemics, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks. Its leadership role in efforts such as the eradication of smallpox, the control of polio, and the management of global health emergencies has positioned it as a critical institution in global public health.
The WHO’s functions include setting international health standards, providing evidence-based recommendations, conducting health surveillance, and offering support to countries in need, particularly during health emergencies. For example, during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the more recent COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO played a central role in coordinating international efforts to contain and manage these diseases. It works closely with governments, civil society organizations, health professionals, and the private sector to tackle health challenges across the world.
In addition to emergency response, WHO is involved in long-term health promotion, addressing issues such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), maternal and child health, nutrition, access to clean water and sanitation, and mental health. It also helps shape global health policies through its work on health systems strengthening, policy development, and advocacy for health equity.
The WHO is funded through a combination of assessed and voluntary contributions from its 194 member states. These contributions are intended to ensure the organization can function effectively in its mission to protect global health. As a member state, each country is expected to contribute to the organization’s financial support based on a scale that takes into account the country’s wealth and population size.
Trump’s Decision to Leave the WHO
In 2020, during his presidency, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would be withdrawing from the WHO. This decision came amid growing criticism of the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The Trump administration, particularly Trump himself, was highly critical of the WHO’s response to the outbreak, accusing the organization of being overly deferential to China and of mishandling the early stages of the pandemic.
The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO was framed as a response to what Trump and his supporters saw as the organization’s failure to act decisively during the initial stages of the pandemic. Specifically, Trump argued that the WHO had been too slow in recognizing the severity of the situation and failed to take swift action to contain the spread of the virus. Trump also alleged that the WHO had been influenced by China, citing the organization’s early praise for China’s handling of the outbreak as evidence of this bias.
Trump’s dissatisfaction with the WHO also extended to the organization’s handling of the transparency and communication surrounding the pandemic. He repeatedly accused the WHO of downplaying the severity of the virus in China and not declaring a global emergency soon enough. In his view, this delay in responding to the crisis allowed the virus to spread rapidly across the globe, putting millions of lives at risk.
Another factor driving Trump’s decision to withdraw from the WHO was a broader political context. During his tenure, Trump was focused on “America First” policies, which included distancing the United States from international organizations and agreements that he believed were not serving American interests. His administration’s “America First” foreign policy was characterized by skepticism of multilateralism and a focus on prioritizing national sovereignty. By withdrawing from the WHO, Trump argued that the U.S. would be better able to protect its own interests without being encumbered by the organization’s influence.
The United States is one of the largest financial contributors to the WHO, and Trump’s decision to pull out from the organization was seen as a significant blow to its financial stability and global influence. The U.S. accounted for about 15% of the WHO’s total budget, and its withdrawal left a substantial gap in the organization’s funding. Trump’s administration also sought to redirect U.S. funding for global health initiatives to other international bodies and organizations that it deemed more effective.
Additionally, Trump’s criticism of the WHO was part of a broader pattern of skepticism toward international institutions. He had previously criticized other international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, viewing them as disproportionately benefiting other countries at the expense of the U.S. In his view, international institutions often imposed constraints on U.S. sovereignty and failed to hold other nations accountable for their actions.
Trump’s decision to leave the WHO was met with mixed reactions both in the United States and around the world. Many public health experts and international leaders, including those from the European Union, expressed disappointment, arguing that the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO would weaken global cooperation at a time when international collaboration was critical to addressing the pandemic and other global health challenges. Critics of Trump’s decision also pointed out that the U.S. had historically been a leader in global health initiatives, and leaving the WHO would diminish its ability to influence global health policies and priorities.
Implications of the Withdrawal
The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO would have had several significant consequences. One of the most immediate impacts would have been the reduction in funding for the WHO and other global health programs that rely on U.S. contributions. The loss of U.S. financial support would have made it more difficult for the WHO to carry out its mission, particularly in resource-poor countries that rely heavily on WHO assistance.
Another potential consequence of the withdrawal was a weakening of global health cooperation. The WHO plays a key role in coordinating responses to global health emergencies, such as pandemics, and its work is essential for ensuring that countries can share information and resources in a timely and effective manner. Without the United States’ participation, it would have been harder to maintain a unified global response to health crises like COVID-19.
Finally, Trump’s decision to leave the WHO raised concerns about the future of multilateralism in global health. The WHO represents an important platform for international cooperation on public health, and the U.S. departure signaled a retreat from the idea that global challenges require collective action. Many observers feared that other countries might follow the U.S. lead and withdraw from the organization, undermining its ability to address pressing health issues.
Biden Administration’s Reversal
After President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, one of his first actions was to reverse Trump’s decision to withdraw from the WHO. Biden recognized the importance of global cooperation in addressing public health crises and rejoined the organization, signaling the United States’ renewed commitment to multilateralism in global health and other areas.
In conclusion, the World Health Organization plays a vital role in global public health, coordinating efforts to address health emergencies, setting standards for disease prevention, and supporting health systems worldwide. Trump’s decision to withdraw from the WHO was driven by his dissatisfaction with the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as his broader “America First” foreign policy. However, this decision was met with significant opposition and concern about its long-term implications for global health cooperation. The Biden administration’s reversal of the withdrawal highlights the continued importance of multilateral institutions like the WHO in tackling global health challenges.