US President Thinks of Rejoining World Health Organization

Washington D.C. - In a surprising move, US President Donald Trump has hinted at reconsidering the country's exit from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing concerns about the global health agency's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises.

Following his announcement on Monday that the US will be leaving the WHO on January 22, 2026, Trump said during a rally in Las Vegas on Saturday that "Maybe we would consider doing it again, I don't know. Maybe we would." He also expressed dissatisfaction with the agency's financial structure, stating that the US contributes around 18% of its overall funding, more than China despite having a much larger population.

The WHO has long been reliant on US support, receiving $18 billion in annual contributions from the country. However, this will no longer be the case after January 2026, when the US officially exits the organization.

Trump also used the rally to promote his plans for increased investment between the US and Saudi Arabia. He pledged that he would ask Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to commit an additional $1 trillion in investments over the next four years, surpassing the existing promise of $600 billion.

With US exit from WHO imminent, global health experts raise concerns about a potential knowledge gap and loss of critical resources for pandemic response and prevention.