President Trump said that the United States might only fund the World Health Organization 10% of what it paid prior to a freeze on funding.
Trump made the comments Saturday in a tweet responding to Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, who had questioned reports about the return of WHO funding.
“This is just one of numerous concepts being considered under which we would pay 10% of what we have been paying over many years, matching much lower China payments. Have not made final decision. All funds are frozen. Thanks!” Trump said.
Lou, this is just one of numerous concepts being considered under which we would pay 10% of what we have been paying over many years, matching much lower China payments. Have not made final decision. All funds are frozen. Thanks! https://t.co/xQUzHy4NDa
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2020
The story that Dobbs had tweeted out was about a five-page draft letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus indicating the administration would “agree to pay up to what China pays in assessed contributions” to the WHO.
Last month, Trump announced that the U.S. would pause payments to the WHO while the administration reviews how the United Nations-linked body handled the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pushed back on the move, saying it is “not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus.”
Trump said of the prior WHO funding that there are “deep concerns whether America’s generosity has been put to the best use possible.”
