President Trump Issues Official Notice of Withdrawal from the World Health Organization
- Milton Quintanilla Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
- Updated Jul 08, 2020
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President Trump issued a notice to the United Nations this week asserting that the U.S. will be withdrawing from the World Health Organization over the group’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and its close ties with China.
According to Fox News, on Tuesday, a spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed that the WHO had received the notification of withdrawal from the President.
Members of Congress were also informed by the White House on Tuesday and told that the official removal will take effect July 2021.
"Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the U.S. from the WHO in the midst of a pandemic," Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), wrote on Twitter Tuesday.
"To call Trump’s response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interests—it leaves Americans sick & America alone," he contended.
Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the U.S. from the @WHO in the midst of a pandemic.
— Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) July 7, 2020
To call Trump’s response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interests—it leaves Americans sick & America alone.
Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R- TN) also criticized Trump’s impending departure from the WHO asserting that the organization needs to be held accountable for its shortcomings in the handling of COVID-19, but after the pandemic has been resolved.
"I disagree with the president's decision,” Alexander wrote in a statement. “Certainly, there needs to be a good, hard look at mistakes the World Health Organization might have made in connection with coronavirus, but the time to do that is after the crisis has been dealt with, not in the middle of it."
Alexander then quarried about how parting ways with the WHO would impact vaccine trials and hinder international collaboration with the U.S. in combating the novel coronavirus.
"If the administration has specific recommendations for reforms of the WHO, it should submit those recommendations to Congress, and we can work together to make those happen," he added.
The presumptive 2020 Presidential nominee Joe Biden also commented on the withdrawal asserting that if elected president, restoring the United States' relationship with the WHO will be one of his first tasks.
"Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health," the former vice president tweeted. "On my first day as President, I will rejoin the WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage.”
Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage. https://t.co/8uazVIgPZB
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 7, 2020
As Christian Headlines previously reported, in May, Trump threatened to pull funding from the WHO following a temporary suspension of funds the month prior.
Related:
Donald Trump Announces Decision to End U.S. Funding of the World Health Organization
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Drew Angerer/Staff