Trump signs US withdrawal from World Health Organization

Donald Trump is issuing executive orders one after another after being sworn in as president | Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of the United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday local time. He then signed several executive orders, including an order to withdraw the United States from the WHO.

After signing the order on Monday, Trump described the move as "one of the most important" decisions of his presidency.

Trump, now serving his second term, justified the withdrawal by stating that the United States has contributed an "unfair amount" of funding to the WHO compared to other countries.

According to a CNN report, Trump has been a longstanding critic of the WHO. During his first term in July 2020, the U.S. officially withdrew from the organization amidst the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. That decision, controversial at the time, was part of his broader criticism of the organization's handling of the crisis and its perceived favoritism toward certain countries.

The move is expected to reignite debates over the U.S. role in global health initiatives, with supporters praising it as a stand for fairness and critics warning of the potential impact on international health collaboration.