President-elect Donald Trump is poised to reignite global controversy by pulling the United States out of the World Health Organization (WHO) on his first day in office, January 20, 2025. According to a report from the Financial Times, Trump’s transition team is finalizing plans to sever ties with the global health agency, a move that would eliminate its largest single source of funding and reshape U.S. engagement in international health policy.
The decision, if executed, would fulfill a promise Trump made during his first presidency, where he accused the WHO of aligning too closely with China and failing in its global health leadership, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. contributes roughly 16% of the WHO’s $6.83 billion budget, a figure that underscores its importance as the organization’s top financial backer. Despite this, Trump has been one of the WHO’s most vocal critics, accusing it of failing to hold China accountable for the spread of COVID-19 and of being “China-centric.”
“In 2020, Trump initiated the process to leave the WHO as COVID-19 spread, accusing the agency of being under China’s control,” the Financial Times reported. However, the withdrawal process was halted when President Joe Biden reversed the decision immediately upon taking office in 2021, restoring U.S. ties with the organization.
Sources familiar with Trump’s transition plans say his team is prioritizing a swift withdrawal this time around to highlight a stark contrast with Biden’s policies.
“There are lots of people who are going to be part of the inner circle of the administration who do not trust the WHO and want to symbolically show on day one that they are out,” said Ashish Jha, Biden’s former White House coronavirus response coordinator and the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health.
Trump’s renewed push to leave the WHO reflects broader conservative concerns about global institutions perceived as undermining U.S. sovereignty. Critics within Trump’s circle have long argued that the WHO fails to deliver value for the substantial financial contributions made by American taxpayers.
Conservative voices also claim the organization exhibits inefficiencies and biases that make it ineffective. “The same WHO that we left in the first administration? It seems like we wouldn’t much care what they have to say,” a source familiar with Trump’s transition plans told the Financial Times.
By making this decision on Inauguration Day, Trump aims to set a tone for his second term, reaffirming his commitment to an “America First” agenda that prioritizes national interests over globalist policies.
The potential withdrawal has sparked warnings from experts who predict significant consequences for global health initiatives. The WHO plays a critical role in coordinating international responses to health crises, such as pandemics, disease outbreaks, and vaccine distribution. Losing its largest financial contributor could weaken the organization’s ability to address global health challenges effectively.
Ashish Jha noted the likely “catastrophic” impact of the U.S. withdrawal on global health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries that rely heavily on WHO programs.
In April 2020, Trump’s initial critique of the WHO included accusations that it had failed to act transparently during the pandemic and had repeatedly erred in favor of Beijing. “They seem to be very China-centric. That’s a nice way of saying it, but they seem to err always on the side of China,” Trump said at the time.
Experts suggest that announcing the withdrawal on Inauguration Day serves both symbolic and strategic purposes. The move directly counters Biden’s policies and reasserts Trump’s authority on global issues, marking a decisive break from the previous administration.
While the Trump team has not officially commented on the plan, the WHO and its member states are bracing for the announcement. The departure would represent a major shift in U.S. foreign policy and could set a precedent for other nations considering reducing their reliance on the organization.
The potential withdrawal raises broader questions about the future role of the United States in global health initiatives. Without U.S. support, the WHO may face financial constraints, impacting programs that combat diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. It may also weaken global pandemic preparedness and response efforts.
For Trump, the move underscores his broader vision of limiting U.S. involvement in international organizations he perceives as failing to serve American interests. As his inauguration approaches, the world watches closely to see whether this bold policy shift will come to fruition—and what it will mean for global health governance in the years ahead.
