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The UN’s World Health Organization is the global authority on health in the world at large. However, President Trump of the US announced he was suspending American funding of the WHO pending an investigation of its handling of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
In a press conference that turned into an odd screed, Trump made startling allegations. They included that the WHO engaged in “political correctness” before enacting life-saving measures. Trump has repeatedly insisted, without evidence, that the WHO has been collaborating with the Chinese government. Trump claims that this is to misrepresent COVID-19 numbers from the East Asian nation.
During a press event Tuesday, Trump explained his reasoning. “With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have deep concerns about whether America’s generosity has been put to the best use possible,” Trump told reporters. He then continued, “The reality is that the WHO failed to adequately obtain and share information in a timely and transparent fashion.”
Trump had no evidence to back up these claims, but continued to double down on his assertions. The president alleged that the WHO condemned his January 31 decision to ban all travel from China to the US.
Democrats in Congress question whether Trump even has the authority to unilaterally halt funding to a UN organization. Evan Hollander of the House Appropriations Committee insisted that Trump’s decision was to shift blame away from himself. Instead, Trump wants to put the blame onto the WHO and China, Hollander claims.
“The President does not have the unilateral authority to withhold the United States’ contribution to the World Health Organization.” Some critics believe Trump’s decision in this regard reflects his apparent view that the president is above the normal laws of the US.
However, his conduct in this regard could certainly be a case for a lawsuit lawyer to pursue in a circuit court in the months to come, according to Democrats.
The end of US funding to the WHO could have catastrophic ramifications for global health. Many nations have been relying on WHO resources to help shore up their fight against COVID. The WHO losing US funding could make it harder for those nations to battle the virus within their own borders.
As such, Trump’s actions could endanger global health. Smaller nations could be unable to fight the virus off and halt the spread. Then there would be nothing stopping it from breaking back out in other parts of the world. Including the US.
