Trump did not rule out reconsidering the decision to withdraw the U.S. from WHO
US President Donald Trump has not ruled out that the country may remain in the World Health Organization (WHO). He stated this on January 25 during his speech in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Maybe we would consider doing it again [continuing membership in the WHO]. I don't know. Maybe we would. They need to clean up a little bit," Reuters quoted Trump as saying.
According to Trump, the United States sponsored the organization for $500 million annually, while China sponsored only $39 million. At the same time, he said that representatives of the organization offered him to reverse the decision to withdraw in return for reducing payments to the WHO to $39 million annually.
"I refused them," the US leader noted.
On January 21, President Donald Trump signed a decree on withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). He said that the population of the PRC exceeds the number of people living in America, but despite this, China transfers many times less money to the WHO. That is why, he said, the decision to withdraw from the organization was made.
Following the decision, the media reported that WHO suspended recruitment of new staff after the US withdrew from the organization. Travel costs for staff members were also significantly reduced. Other measures include restrictions on replacing electronic equipment, renegotiating major contracts and suspending office renovations and capital investments.
Back in the summer of 2020, during his first term as president, Trump criticized the WHO and also called it a "Chinese puppet." The American leader believes that WHO paid too much attention to the PRC, despite the fact that it is financed mainly at the expense of the United States. He also expressed the opinion that the organization "recently worked poorly."
