U.S. EXITS WHO: Global Health Shake-Up!

President Trump’s America has finally broken free from the globalist grip of the World Health Organization after 78 years, reclaiming sovereignty from unelected bureaucrats who mismanaged crises and favored China.

Story Highlights

The U.S. formally exits WHO on January 23, 2026, ending 78-year membership following Trump’s January 2025 executive order.
Administration cites WHO’s COVID-19 failures, Chinese influence, and bureaucratic waste despite U.S. funding 25% of operations.
No American has ever held WHO director-general role, despite massive contributions and CDC expertise.
Shift to bilateral health agreements preserves U.S. leadership without multilateral entanglements.
Critics decry risks, but administration prioritizes national control over flawed global institutions.

Withdrawal Timeline and Announcement

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, initiating U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, fulfilling the one-year notice required by the WHO Constitution. Departments of Health and Human Services and State formally announced completion on January 23, 2026. This action completes what Trump started in 2020, reversed by Biden, amid broader rejection of ineffective multilateral bodies. Americans funded up to 25% of WHO operations since 1948 without gaining a director-general position.

On January 22, 2026, the U.S. officially exited the WHO—following a Trump executive order citing COVID failures and Chinese influence.

Supporters call it a win for sovereignty. Critics warn it may weaken global pandemic response. pic.twitter.com/34eOY7qwmk

— NLDR (Noldor) Media (@NLDRMedia) January 23, 2026

Reasons Rooted in WHO Failures

Trump administration officials highlighted WHO’s mishandling of COVID-19, including delayed pandemic declaration that cost critical weeks and praise for China’s underreporting. HHS chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized the organization in a May 2025 World Health Assembly speech for bureaucratic bloat, conflicts of interest, and power politics. Senior HHS officials noted WHO takes credit for CDC ground work. This exit rejects an entity influenced by adversaries, prioritizing U.S. sovereignty and common-sense health policy.

Shift to Bilateral Health Leadership

The U.S. ceased participation in WHO committees, including flu strain assessments for vaccine updates. Administration emphasizes continued global health leadership through multiyear bilateral agreements signed with dozens of countries in December 2025. A senior HHS official stated the U.S. walks away from WHO but not from leadership, countering claims of isolationism. This approach avoids globalist overreach while maintaining effective cooperation on America’s terms.

U.S. disputes $133 million in unpaid 2024-2025 dues, challenging congressional resolution language on obligations. Data access issues for pandemic warnings remain unresolved, though bilateral pacts aim to address gaps.

Criticisms and Conservative Response

Public health experts like Dr. Ronald Nahass call the move short-sighted, warning of crippled initiatives like polio eradication. Legal scholars question Trump’s authority without congressional action, given 1948 joint resolution. Even critics admit WHO errors, such as early mask discouragement and airborne denial until 2024. For conservatives frustrated with globalism and fiscal waste, this victory restores control, rejecting unelected oversight that eroded national priorities.

WHO has not acknowledged the withdrawal, leaving status ambiguous. Short-term, WHO faces funding loss; long-term, U.S. forfeits influence in regulations but gains flexibility. This aligns with Trump policies favoring limited government and individual liberty over supranational bureaucracy.