United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday pushed back on President Trump’s ann…

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday pushed back on President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate committee to investigate origin of, response to coronavirus pandemicAmash teases possibility of third-party presidential bidOvernight Health Care: Trump fires back at critics during briefing | Trump claims he has authority on when to reopen states | Governors form groups to discuss plans | Fauci offers support to Trump | House delays returnMOREs announcement that the U.S. will pull funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), saying the coronavirus pandemic is not the time for such a move.
In a statement, Guterres said it was “not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus.” The WHO is part of the U.N.
“Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences,” the U.N. secretary-general added, according to Reuters.
Trump said earlier Tuesday evening that the U.S. would halt funding to the WHO and conduct a 60- to 90-day review to assess the World Health Organizations role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.
The president also condemned the WHO for its praise of Chinas handling of the coronavirus as it emerged, although Trump himself also spoke positively of China at the time.
Numerous other people and institutions have warned Trump against the move to cut WHO funding, with the American Medical Association calling it a dangerous step in the wrong direction.
Fighting a global pandemic requires international cooperation and reliance on science and data. Cutting funding to the WHO rather than focusing on solutions is a dangerous move at a precarious moment for the world, the AMA said in a statement.
Numerous Democratic lawmakers have also criticized the announcement.
“The White House knows that it grossly mishandled this crisis from the beginning, ignoring multiple warnings and squandering valuable time, dismissing medical science, comparing COVID-19 to the common cold, and saying ‘everything will be fine,'” Sen. Patrick LeahyPatrick Joseph LeahyDemocratic senators call for funding for local media in coronavirus stimulusGraham backs Trump, vows no money for WHO in next funding billJustice IG pours fuel on looming fight over FISA courtMORE (Vt.), the senior Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Tuesday. “Not wanting to take responsibility as the deaths continue to mount, he blames others.”
“He wants this to be about other countries so he doesnt have to explain why South Korea and the USA got hit with their first cases at the same time, but South Korea prevented mass deaths,” Sen. Brian SchatzBrian Emanuel SchatzDemocratic senators want to create panel to determine how to reopen countryThe Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Dybul interview; Boris Johnson updateLawmakers, labor leaders ramp up calls to use Defense Production ActMORE (D-Hawaii) added.