OTTAWA — Donald Trump‘s envoy to Canada defended the U.S. president’s controversial decision to temporarily stop funding the World Health Organization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acting ambassador Richard Mills said Thursday the pause in funding ordered by the president is necessary so the U.S. can assess the WHO’s transparency and accountability.
Last week, Trump accused the WHO of a cover-up and making mistakes in handling the outbreak in China. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo doubled down on those concerns speaking to reporters this week.
The U.S. is the UN agency’s top funder, providing hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Mills said the U.S. is still doing its part to support the international effort to fight the pandemic through