America’s WHO exit leaves a leadership vacuum

Seventy-eight years after helping found the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States has formally withdrawn from the agency, following through on a pledge President Donald Trump made on his first day back in office.

In a joint statement last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of State said the WHO had "abandoned its core mission,” and repeatedly acted against US interests. The administration pointed to what it says was the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its failure to adopt reforms, and an “inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence” from member states, notably China.

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