Bill Gates says Trump's decision to ax WHO funding during a pandemic is just 'as dangerous as it sounds'
President Trump announced Tuesday evening that he will direct the government to stop funding the World Health Organization and "assess the WHO's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus." Bill Gates, who has steered much of his Microsoft fortune to public health initiatives, said halting funding for the WHO "during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds," because "their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them."
His wasn't the lone voice of criticism. Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association, said cutting off the WHO during "the worst public health crisis in a century" is a "dangerous step in the wrong direction," adding, "Fighting a global pandemic requires international cooperation and reliance on science and data." Nahid Bhadelia, a Boston University infectious disease expert, called the WHO "our eyes on the global scope of this pandemic" and said stripping it of 15 percent of its budget now "is an absolute disaster."
Democrats and even some conservatives joined in the condemnation of what The New York Times called "the latest example of the president's attempt to shift the blame for the handling of the crisis." Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said the WHO could have "declared a global health emergency sooner," but "withholding funds for WHO in the midst of the worst pandemic in a century makes as much sense as cutting off ammunition to an ally as the enemy closes in. The White House knows that it grossly mishandled this crisis from the beginning." Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Ct.) said Trump had little room to talk.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Not everyone thought it was a bad idea, though. Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro told Fox News that WHO officials have "blood on their hands" for having "fail[ed] us in a pandemic."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Political cartoons for October 25Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include hospital bill trauma, Independence Day, and more
-
Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours
-
Ukraine: Donald Trump pivots againIn the Spotlight US president apparently warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Vladimir Putin’s terms or face destruction during fractious face-to-face
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
