Trump Says U.S. Will End Relationship With WHO

President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States is parting ways with the World Health Organization (WHO). Trump’s decision is expected to minimize the organization’s role and function during the pandemic.

“Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide, and deserving urgent public health needs,” Trump said in his Friday press briefing. “The world needs answers from China on the virus. We must have transparency.”

Trump has been blaming China for deliberately delaying pandemic reporting.

“Chinese officials ignored their reporting obligations to the World Health Organization and pressured the World Health Organization to mislead the world when Chinese authorities first discovered the virus,” Trump said. “Countless lives have been taken, and profound economic hardship has been inflicted all around the globe.”

During the press conference, Trump announced that he would end Hong Kong special trade status due to China’s moves to curb the territory’s autonomy.

“Today will affect the full range of agreements we have with Hong Kong, from our extradition treaty to our export controls on dual-use technologies and more, with few exceptions. We will be revising the State Department’s travel advisory for Hong Kong to reflect the increased danger of surveillance and punishment by the Chinese state security apparatus,” the president said.