US to withdraw from WHO as China has "total control" over it, Trump claims.

Abstract

The US will withdraw from the World Health Organization, according to the country’s president, who has claimed that China had “total control” over it. Donald Trump gave an ultimatum to director general Tedros Ghebreyesus on 18 May1 saying that if WHO did not “commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days” he would permanently freeze US funding to the UN health agency and reconsider its membership. Speaking on 29 May, Trump said WHO had “refused to act” and as such he would be “terminating” the relationship and redirecting funds to other “urgent global public health needs.” Health leaders have criticised the decision to withdraw, suggesting that it is being used as a distraction from the situation in the US. The country has had over 100 000 covid-19 related deaths and more than 1.8m cases.2 They have also pointed out …