On Tuesday President Trump sharply criticized the World Health Organization (WHO). He tweeted, “The WHO really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look. Fortunately I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation?”
Trump is following the lead of Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ). McSally recently said on Fox Business, “The WHO needs to stop covering for them… I think [WHO chief] Dr. Tedros needs to step down. We need to take some action to address this issue. It’s just irresponsible, it’s unconscionable what they have done here while we have people dying across the globe.”
The organization has constantly downplayed the Chinese role in the virus. They have done this even as they receive much funding from the U.S. and other Western sources.
At first the WHO denied the lethality of the coronavirus. Then they said it could not be transmitted to humans.
Now they have engaged in a Chinese-sponsored propaganda campaign to artificially lower the number of Chinese victims. This is to attempt to salvage something out of China’s international medical and economic reputation. But that horse has already left the barn.
The WHO will now likely begin a charm offensive, as their funding is at stake. They will praise President Trump, to a point, and play up their coordination with the president’s coronavirus team, especially including media stars Dr. Birx Deborah and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
However, the WHO and their leader are likely to find the president and the American people in no mood to shilly- shally when the coronavirus crisis is over. Before that point, the WHO must reform itself or face severe repercussions.
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