Trump cuts off cash for World Health chiefs

DONALD Trump last night halted US payments to the World Health Organisation as he accused it of ‘covering up’ the spread of coronavirus.

He said the WHO had failed in its ‘basic duty’ of alerting other countries about the virus’s emergence out of China and said ‘political correctness was placed above saving lives’.

In a lengthy condemnation of the organisation, he made the staggering claim the WHO’s handling of the virus has resulted in a ‘20fold’ increase in global cases.

He said US funding would be stopped amid a review of the WHO’s handling of the virus.

The US contributes half a billion dollars annually, [£396million] compared to £30million provided by China.

Speaking during a Press conference on the lawns of the White House, he accused the WHO of ‘severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of coronavirus’. His attack came after several claims by Trump that the WHO’s response has been ‘Chinacentric’. ‘With the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic we have deep concerns whether America’s generosity has been put to the best use possible. The reality is that the WHO failed to adequately obtain, vet and share information in a timely and transparent fashion,’ Mr Trump said.

‘The world depends on the

WHO to work with countries to ensure that accurate information about international health threats is shared in a timely manner.

‘The WHO failed in this basic duty and must be held accountable.’

Mr Trump added: ‘Many countries said they were going to listen to the WHO and they have problems now the likes of which they cannot believe.

‘So much death has been caused by their mistakes,’ he added.

The US is one of the nations hardest- hit by the virus, recording 611,156 cases and 25,924 deaths.

Last night’s comments came a day after President Trump launched a savage attack on the media, argued with reporters, and played a campaignstyle video praising his handling of the pandemic in the White House briefing room.