President Donald Trump recently indicated he might be open to rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO). This comes right after he signed an order withdrawing the U.S. from the organization. During a rally at the Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, he expressed frustration over the funding disparity between the U.S. and China. He pointed out that while the U.S. contributed about $500 million to the WHO, China paid only $39 million, despite its much larger population.
“Think about it,” Trump said. “China pays $39 million for 1.4 billion people, while we pay $500 million. It’s puzzling.” He added that he was offered a chance to rejoin the WHO for $39 million but turned it down, unsure if the move would be welcomed by the public.
A report from NPR noted that the U.S. covers roughly 10% of the WHO’s budget, while China’s share is about 3%. Trump had previously criticized the WHO for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and what he viewed as unfair payment structures. His stance led to the U.S. withdrawal from the organization, which was initiated swiftly after he took office. However, his successor, Joe Biden, reinstated U.S. participation in the WHO.
Trump’s concerns about financial contributions aren’t limited to the WHO. He has also raised similar points about NATO funding. At a recent conference in Davos, Switzerland, he called for all NATO countries to contribute 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) to defense. NATO had previously set a contribution guideline of 2%, but many nations, including Spain, Italy, and Canada, have not met this target, according to NATO’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Trump has questioned the United States’ financial commitment to NATO while suggesting that the U.S. protects other member countries without receiving adequate support in return. “I’m not sure we should be spending anything, but we should certainly be helping them,” he stated, highlighting his concerns over U.S. contributions to international organizations.
