RFK rips WHO members over ‘failures,’ bureaucratic ‘bloat’ leading to withdrawal

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered a fiery pre-recorded video exclusively to Fox News Digital, outlining the reasons behind President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO). In his video, Kennedy criticized the WHO for being mired in bureaucratic bloat, conflicts of interest, and international power politics, noting that countries like China have exerted undue influence over the organization’s operations. Despite the U.S. historically providing the majority of the WHO’s funding, Kennedy argued that the organization has not always acted in the best interests of the global public.

Kennedy’s video was intended to be broadcast before the World Health Assembly, where member states of the WHO gathered for their 78th annual meeting in Geneva. However, the video did not appear to air during the assembly, as Fox News Digital’s review of the livestream showed. Instead, other world and health leaders addressed the assembly, including French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The main focus of this year’s assembly was the signing of a “pandemic agreement” aimed at preventing future health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Kennedy specifically criticized the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing the organization of failing to report human-to-human transmission and of promoting misleading information about the virus’s origins.

President Trump had previously signed an executive order in January announcing the U.S.’ intention to withdraw from the WHO due to its mishandling of the pandemic and other issues, such as unequal financial contributions from member states. Kennedy reiterated Trump’s stance on the matter, emphasizing the need for global cooperation on health while questioning the WHO’s ability to bring about necessary reforms.

In his video, Kennedy called for a reboot of the global health system, highlighting the U.S.’ shift in priorities towards focusing on chronic diseases in addition to infectious diseases. He expressed skepticism about the WHO’s pandemic agreement, which he believes will perpetuate the organization’s shortcomings.

Overall, Kennedy’s message underscored the Trump administration’s concerns about the WHO’s effectiveness and transparency, signaling a shift towards a more independent and accountable approach to global health cooperation.