WHO to "reconsider" Trump's 'executive order to leave'

When U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing from the World Health Organization and WHO on his first day in office, the WHO asked for reconsideration.

In a briefing in Geneva on the 21st local time, WHO spokesman Tariq Zarevich expressed regret over the U.S. decision to leave the WHO and said he hoped it would be reconsidered.

He added that he hopes there will be constructive dialogue for the benefit of not only the American people but also people around the world.

An EU Commission spokesperson told reporters that international cooperation is essential to being resilient to global health threats and that he believes the U.S. administration will consider these points before the formal exit.German Health Minister

Kal Lauterbach also said he would try to persuade Trump to reconsider his decision, saying the U.S. announcement of its withdrawal from the WHO was contrary to the international response to the global health crisis.

Earlier, shortly after taking office on the 20th local time, President Trump signed an executive order withdrawing from the Paris Climate Change Agreement with the WHO.

Trump explained the background of the executive order, saying the WHO has failed to adequately respond to several health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China, and has failed to demonstrate its independence from member states' improper political influence.

The WHO also says it unfairly demands the United States for an amount that cannot be compared to other countries' levies, noting that China has a population of 1.4 billion, which is 300% of the United States, but only 90% of the United States contributes to the WHO.