WHO Reconsideration on the Table as Donald Trump Weighs Second Bid for Global Health Agency

Washington D.C., Dec 25, 2023 - In a surprising revelation, former President of the United States, Donald Trump, has hinted at the possibility of rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO), citing concerns over its handling of past health crises. Trump made the remarks during a rally in Las Vegas on Saturday, as he discussed his country's decision to leave the global health agency effective January 22, 2026.

The U.S. exit from WHO is seen as a significant move by Trump's administration, which had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the organization's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises. However, it appears that the President may now be willing to reconsider his administration's decision.

"Maybe we would consider doing it again, I don't know," Trump stated in reference to rejoining WHO. "They would have to clean it up." The statement comes as the U.S. is set to leave the WHO after a nearly five-year presence under Donald Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama.

The implications of this potential shift are significant, given that the United States has long been one of the biggest financial backers of the global health agency, contributing around 18% of its overall funding. The WHO recently received a two-year budget of $6.8 billion, primarily funded by member countries and international partnerships.

Trump's comments also underscore his ongoing quest to build stronger economic ties between Saudi Arabia and the U.S., with a notable increase in investments. In response to President Trump's call for such expansion, Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia earlier stated that the kingdom intends to invest approximately $600 billion in expanded trade and investment over the next four years.

Representatives from WHO have remained tight-lipped on this matter as of now but this latest statement suggests possible changes may be coming soon.