According to U.S. President Donald Trump, the number of COVID-19 cases in the world has increased 20 times due to organizational errors.
The United States has suspended its contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO). US President Donald Trump told a briefing at the White House on Tuesday.
“Today I instructed the administration to suspend contributions to WHO until an assessment of the organization’s role in poor governance and the cover-up of [data] on the spread of coronavirus”, – he said. – “Everyone knows what happened. American taxpayers contributed $400-500 million a year to the WHO. In comparison, China was paying $40 million.”
“The U.S., as the organization’s main sponsor, must insist that WHO bear all responsibility. One of the most dangerous decisions was to criticize the US ban on air travel with China and other countries”, – the president said. – “Fortunately, I did not listen to their [WTO] recommendations and postponed flights, thus saving thousands and thousands of lives <…> Look at other countries, in particular in Europe, which followed the WHO recommendations and left borders open.”
Possible reform
Washington is working to reform the WHO and intends to discuss with other countries how to use American funds provided to the organization, Trump added.
“We will continue to work with the WHO to see if it can implement significant reforms <…> All the assistance we are sending will be discussed <…> with very influential groups <…> And we will discuss with other countries and health partners what we should do with all the money that goes to the WHO”, – Trump said, announcing a few minutes earlier that the U.S. is suspending contributions to the WHO.
“Maybe the WHO will be reformed, maybe not”, – the American leader added.
Trump was asked why he felt it was right to decide to suspend funding for WHO now, in the midst of a pandemic.
“We will do business with countries and leaders from around the world. We spend $500 million a year, <…> much more than anyone else, including China <…> We have had problems with them for many years <…> We expect the [estimates] to take 60 to 90 days, we are very carefully considering <…> But this should have been done a long time ago by previous administrations”, – Trump said.
“This is an assessment period, but as long as we suspend all funding that goes to the WHO, we will be able to take that money and channel it to areas where it is needed”, – the White House head continued.