WHO chief counters Trump's criticisms behind US pullout

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the agency, refuting claims of mismanagement, political bias, and excessive financial demands.

"We regret the decision and we hope the U.S. will reconsider," Tedros said at the WHO’s executive board meeting.

On January 20, Trump signed an executive order to leave the WHO, citing the agency’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of independence, and failure to implement reforms.

WHO pushes back on U.S. claims

Tedros rejected Trump’s assertion that the WHO had failed to enact necessary reforms, saying the organization had undergone its “deepest and most wide-ranging reforms” in the past seven years.

He also dismissed claims that the U.S. faced unfair financial burdens, pointing to efforts to broaden the donor base and shift funding reliance away from voluntary contributions.

Regarding Trump's accusation of mishandling COVID-19, Tedros defended the WHO’s early actions, including issuing alerts and guidance as soon as reports of "viral pneumonia" surfaced in China.

"Of course, there would be challenges and weaknesses," he acknowledged but highlighted new initiatives, such as the Pandemic Fund and the mRNA Technology Transfer Hub, aimed at strengthening global response efforts.

Concerns over WHO independence

Trump’s order also accused the WHO of lacking independence from political influence. Tedros countered that the organization maintains impartiality, saying, “When demands are not supported by scientific evidence... we say no, politely.”

The U.S. is the WHO’s largest donor, and its withdrawal could leave a major funding gap in global health efforts. Despite the setback, WHO officials say they remain committed to working with all countries, including the U.S.

It remains unclear if Washington will reconsider its decision, but Tedros’ appeal signals ongoing tensions between the WHO and the Trump administration.