Biden to reengage with WHO after Trump cut ties over COVID and China

President Biden on Thursday will move to re-engage with the World Health Organization -- reversing President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the controversial U. N. body over its handling of the early days of the COVID-19 crisis.

In a statement before the inauguration, the Biden transition called the body "an entity that is critical to coordinating the international response to COVID-19, advancing preparedness for future epidemics and pandemics, and improving the health of all people."

Trump had moved to "terminate" the relationship with the body over the organization’s bias toward China and its acceptance of early narratives about the virus. The U. S. had been the top contributor to the agency, to the tune of approximately $450 million a year.

The U. S. criticized WHO officials' praise of Chinese "transparency," the ignoring of warnings about the virus from Taiwan, and its repetition of Chinese claims that COVID-19 could not be spread from person to person. Trump had also pointed to opposition from WHO officials to his decision to place a travel ban on China in the initial days of the crisis.

"Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the W... (Read more)

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