Donald Trump accuses World Health Organisation of 'horrible, tragic mistake' over early coronavirus guidance

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US President Donald Trump addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing in the Rose Garden at the White House
REUTERS

Donald Trump has continued to criticise the World Health Organisation’s coronavirus response after halting its funding, accusing it of a "horrible, tragic mistake".

The US leader said the WHO erroneously slammed his decision to close US borders to China and that it was “tragic” that other nations “put their trust” in the health body's early advice.

Mr Trump yesterday pulled funding from the group, saying it had promoted China's "disinformation" about Covid-19 that likely led to a wider outbreak than otherwise would have occurred.

And at Wednesday’s White House briefing, he said: "Tragically, other nations put their trust in the WHO and they didn't do any form of ban," Trump adds. "You see what happened to Italy, you see what happened to Spain, you see what happened in France."

Mr Trump added: "I’m sure they [the WHO] didn't know the gravity of it, but perhaps they knew.”

He said the organisation’s guidance early on was a “horrible, tragic mistake.”

He added, citing no evidence to back up his claim: "Or, perhaps they knew. I'm sure they didn't know the gravity of it, but perhaps they knew."

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the 27-nation EU "deeply" regrets the suspension of funds and added that the WHO is "needed more than ever" to combat the pandemic.

He called for measures to promote unity instead of division, and said: "Only by joining forces can we overcome this crisis that knows no borders."

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the country is "seriously concerned" about the US decision, telling reporters: "As the most authoritative and professional international institution in the field of global public health security, the WHO plays an irreplaceable role in responding to the global public health crisis.”

The US is the biggest overall donor to the Geneva-based WHO, contributing more than $400 million (£316m) in 2019, roughly 15 per cent of its budget.

The hold on funding was expected. Mr Trump has been increasingly critical of the organisation as the global health crisis has continued, and he has reacted angrily to criticism of his administration's response.

Announcing the move, Mr Trump said “there was credible” information in December to suspect human-to-human transmission and the WHO did not respond appropriately.

“So much death has been caused by their mistakes,” Mr Trump said on Tuesday.

Also at Wednesday’s briefing, Mr Trump said data indicates the US is "past the peak" of the Covid-19 epidemic, clearing the way for his plans to roll out guidelines to begin to "reopen" the country.

Mr Trump called the latest data "encouraging," saying they have "put us in a very strong position to finalise guidelines for states on reopening the country."

He said those guidelines will be unveiled on Thursday at the White House.

The guidelines are expected to clear the way for an easing of social distancing in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while keeping them in place in harder-hit places. The ultimate decisions will remain with governors.

Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast:

"We have passed the peak on new cases," the president told his daily news briefing. "It's very exciting," he said.

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