Former President Donald Trump recently suggested he might consider rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO), just days after signing an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the organization. This move reversed his earlier decision to withdraw from the WHO upon taking office.
During a Las Vegas rally, Trump criticized the funding structure of the WHO, pointing out the disparity between U.S. and Chinese contributions. He noted that the U.S. was paying significantly more than China despite China's larger population. He claimed he was offered re-entry into the WHO at a reduced rate, similar to China's contribution, but declined, questioning whether it would be well-received. He added that the WHO needs to "clean it up a bit" before he would reconsider rejoining.
Reports indicate the U.S. contributes approximately 10% of the WHO's budget, while China contributes around 3%.
Trump's withdrawal order cited the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for reforms, and what he deemed unfair payment demands from the U.S. This marked the second time Trump attempted to withdraw from the WHO; his first attempt in 2020 was reversed by the Biden administration.
The former president's concerns about WHO funding echo his criticisms of NATO contributions. He recently called for all NATO members to contribute 5% of their GDP to defense spending, a significant increase from the current 2% target. Trump has also questioned the overall value of U.S. involvement in NATO given the perceived imbalance in contributions and defense responsibilities.
The White House declined to comment on the matter.
