In a striking rebuttal to Washington’s official position, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has publicly challenged the United States’ stated justification for withdrawing from the UN health agency, characterizing the reasoning as fundamentally inaccurate. The diplomatic confrontation emerged following Thursday’s formal announcement by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that America would terminate its WHO membership.
The WHO leadership issued a comprehensive response on multiple platforms, including an official statement and social media postings on X (formerly Twitter), directly countering the U.S. administration’s claims. The organization emphasized that it has consistently operated with full respect for national sovereignty while facilitating international cooperation during health emergencies.
The American withdrawal notification, which follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump one year ago, cites alleged failures during the COVID-19 pandemic and actions purportedly taken against U.S. interests. Specifically, U.S. officials accused the WHO of obstructing timely information sharing and concealing operational shortcomings that potentially cost American lives.
WHO’s rebuttal systematically addressed each criticism, noting that the organization ‘acted quickly, shared all information it had rapidly and transparently with the world, and advised Member States on the basis of the best available evidence’ throughout the pandemic. The agency clarified that while it recommended protective measures including masks, vaccines, and physical distancing, it never mandated specific implementations, leaving those decisions to sovereign governments.
Complicating the withdrawal process are outstanding financial obligations totaling approximately $260 million in unpaid dues for 2024 and 2025. The WHO has indicated that the withdrawal notification ‘raises issues’ that will require examination during upcoming Executive Board meetings in February and the World Health Assembly in May. Despite the diplomatic rupture, Dr. Tedros expressed hope for America’s eventual return to active participation in global health governance while reaffirming WHO’s commitment to its constitutional mandate of achieving the highest attainable health standard for all people.