Coronavirus: US Democrats back ‘scapegoat’ WHO, as Trump administration keeps up attacks
- Lawmakers ask for immediate restoration of funding to World Health Organisation in letter to president
- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News that US contributions to UN health body may never resume
US House of Representatives Democrats accused the Trump administration of trying to “scapegoat” the World Health Organisation to distract from its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, and urged an immediate restoration of funding to the UN health body, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Thursday.
The letter to Republican President Donald Trump was dated Wednesday, the same day Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News the United States might never restore funding to the WHO.
Trump suspended US contributions to the WHO on April 14, accusing it of being “China-centric” and promoting China’s “disinformation” about the outbreak. WHO officials have denied this and China insists it has been transparent and open. The United States is the WHO’s biggest donor.
“This policy is profoundly misguided and appears to be an effort to scapegoat the WHO in order to deflect attention from your administration’s mismanaged and politicised response to the pandemic,” said the letter, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Eliot Engel, and signed by all 26 of the panel’s Democratic members.
Trump’s handling of the outbreak has been criticised by Democrats as well as some of his fellow Republicans. State governors from both parties have asked for more help to shore up their budgets and provide equipment to overwhelmed hospitals.