Fauci voices support for World Health Organization after Trump terminates US relationship

CNN — Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, expressed support for the World Health Organization on Thursday in a significant break from President Donald Trump, who announced last month that the US would terminate its relationship with the world’s leading public health body. “Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving, urgent global public health needs,” Trump said last month. But Fauci said Thursday, “I would hope that we would continue to benefit from what the WHO can do – at the same time that they continue to improve themselves.” His comments echo the message from the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, who said last week that his agency continues to collaborate closely with WHO, despite Trump’s statements. Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association, assailed Trump’s decision last month as “senseless” with “significant, harmful repercussions.” “COVID-19 affects us all and does not respect borders; defeating it requires the entire world working together,” Harris said in a statement.