Trump’s Decision on WHO Will Be ’Swiftly Challenged’ - Pelosi

By Staff, Agencies

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is vowing to challenge President Donald Trump's decision to halt the country’s funding to the World Health Organization [WHO], a controversial move that comes as the coronavirus outbreak continues to ravage the globe.

Pelosi did not provide details Wednesday of how she will respond, but she made it clear she vehemently disagrees with Trump’s decision.

“This decision is dangerous, illegal and will be swiftly challenged," Pelosi said in a statement.

Trump in a Tuesday announcement blamed the world body for "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus," while stating that the US is halting its payments — between $400 million and $500 million a year — to the organization.

In particular, Trump blamed the premier international health organization for being too closely intertwined with China, stating that WHO failed to "adequately obtain" and "share information in a timely and transparent fashion."

Pelosi, in her statement, described Trump's decision as "senseless" and implied he was simply seeking to blame others as he faces criticism for not responding to the pandemic fast enough.

“We can only be successful in defeating this global pandemic through a coordinated international response with respect for science and data," she continued.

"But sadly, as he has since Day One, the President is ignoring global health experts, disregarding science and undermining the heroes fighting on the frontline, at great risk to the lives and livelihoods of Americans and people around the world," the statement said.