WHO chief criticizes US withdrawal, warns global health risks

2026-01-25 - 21:06

GENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization said Sunday that the United States’ stated reasons for withdrawing from the U.N. health agency are “untrue” and warned the decision would make both the U.S. and the world less safe. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X that the notification of withdrawal undermines global health security and disregards the organization’s longstanding engagement with Washington. “Unfortunately, the reasons cited for the U.S. decision to withdraw from WHO are untrue,” he wrote. “The notification of withdrawal makes both the U.S. and the world less safe.” Tedros said the U.S., as a founding member, had contributed significantly to the WHO’s achievements and that the organization has always worked with all member states “with full respect for their sovereignty.” He added that the agency hopes the U.S. will return to active participation in the future, stressing that the WHO remains committed to its core mission of achieving the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right for all people. The WHO also defended its response to the coronavirus pandemic, rejecting U.S. claims that it failed to act or obstructed the timely sharing of critical information. In a statement, the organization said accusations that it pursued a “politicized, bureaucratic agenda driven by nations hostile to American interests” were false, emphasizing that it is a specialized U.N. agency governed by 194 member states and operates impartially. U.S. officials said the country has formally completed its withdrawal from the WHO, ending nearly 78 years of membership. The decision took effect on Jan. 22, following the required one-year notice period under international rules. Donald Trump has long criticized the WHO, particularly over its handling of the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. He accused the organization of being too close to China, repeating inaccurate information from Beijing, politicizing the crisis, and placing an unfair financial burden on the United States. During his second term, Trump acted on those criticisms by withdrawing the U.S. from the WHO in 2025, ending U.S. membership and funding after nearly eight decades.