Former President Jimmy Carter disagreed with President Trump’s decision to pull funding from the World Health Organization.
The president revealed that his administration will halt monetary contributions to the WHO pending a review of its handling of the pandemic, and he also accused the international organization of pushing “misinformation” about the virus from Chinese health officials.
“I am distressed by the decision to withhold critically needed U.S. funding for the World Health Organization, especially during an international pandemic,” Carter said in a statement on Wednesday. “WHO is the only international organization capable of leading the effort to control this virus.”
Statement by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter: pic.twitter.com/6W5DUcH2aF
— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) April 15, 2020
President Trump has repeatedly fumed over the WHO’s actions in the beginning of the pandemic in recent weeks while disregarding his own support for the organization and Chinese leadership. Last week, he accused the public health organization of being too “China centric,” even though the U.S. is the WHO’s largest annual contributor. Trump also said the organization was pushing “misinformation” about the virus from Chinese health officials.
U.S. officials and lawmakers have repeatedly raised questions regarding the WHO’s actions and the influence China may have on it. The WHO repeatedly opposed travel bans against China, but the Trump administration disregarded its objections and limited travel to and from the country at the end of January.
