President Donald Trump on Monday ordered the United States out of the World Health Organization, which plays a key role in the detection, prevention and treatment of pandemics.
The directive about WHO was part of a flurry of executive orders that Trump issued on the day of his inauguration. It followed through on a promise he’d made in the 2024 presidential campaign ― and on a piece of unfinished business that dates back to his first term in office.
In 2020, as COVID-19 was first spreading across the U.S., Trump accused WHO of showing too much deference to China, where the pandemic started. He eventually ordered the U.S. out of the organization, but his administration didn’t have time to complete the process, which under U.S. law takes a full year.
President Joe Biden rescinded the order upon taking office, halting the process of withdrawal. With Monday’s directive from Trump, it will start over again.
WHO is a specialized agency within the United Nations and performs a variety…
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