Trump Threatens WHO with Taking ’Action’ Next Week After He Exaggerated Amount of US Contributes To Budget

By Staff, Agencies

US President Donald Trump is threatening a major shakeup of the World Health Organization [WHO] after criticizing it for missing the coronavirus outbreak and complaining the United States pays far more than other countries like China.

Trump campaigned on the US, in his view, paying too much into NATO coffers, and criticized the World Trade Organization [WTO]. But while he pushed for funding changes, he did not move to essentially terminate either global entity.

Trump told reporters during his daily coronavirus briefing that he will discuss potential WHO reforms "next week," suggesting any changes might be related to how much Washington gives the organization annually.

But in doing so, he exaggerated – again – the US funding contribution.

Trump continues saying, depending on the year, that Washington pays $500m or $400m or $300m into the group. But budget documents show the US was slated to give the WHO around $120m in 2020 and his administration is proposing to cut that amount by half in 2021.

The organization’s leader this week responded to Trump's criticisms by saying now would not be "the time" for a US funding reduction amid a pandemic.