Episode Details

Jean Luc and Peter Mingils talk about weather and geopolitics of the US withdrawing from the WHO, but certainly not the Olympics on Building Fortunes Radio

Peter Mingils and Jean Luc talk about the weather again in Florida being cold, but in California being too hot. There's also conversations about the United Stated withdrawing from the WHO, The World Health Organization.

The United States' Withdrawal from the WHO is A Bold Step Toward Accountability and Sovereignty In a move that has sparked global debate, the United States officially withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 22, 2026, fulfilling a promise made by President Donald Trump upon his inauguration in 2025.

This decision, executed through Executive Order 14155, marks the culmination of longstanding frustrations with the international body's performance, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world's largest contributor to the WHO,providing between 15% and 20% of its budget—the U.S. has long shouldered a disproportionate financial load, and the withdrawal signals a shift toward prioritizing American interests and bilateral health partnerships over what the administration views as a flawed multilateral institution.

At the heart of the withdrawal lies the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, which originated in Wuhan, China. The Trump administration has repeatedly cited "profound failures” in the organization's response, including delays in declaring a global emergency, obstruction in sharing critical information, and a perceived cover-up of the virus's origins.

Critics within the U.S. government argue that the WHO prioritized politics over public health, allowing undue influence from member states like China, which allegedly withheld genetic sequences and biosafety data from Wuhan labs.

The organization's evaluation of the pandemic's origins dismissed lab-leak theories outright, despite calls for transparency, eroding trust and reinforcing concerns about independence.

President Trump, who first attempted a withdrawal in 2020 during his initial term, emphasized that the WHO's "politicized, bureaucratic agenda” was driven by nations hostile to American interests, compromising its ability to act swiftly and impartially.

Financial inequities further fueled the decision. Despite having a population over three times that of the U.S., China contributes roughly 90% less to the WHO's budget, leading to accusations of an "unfair” burden on American taxpayers.

The U.S. has provided hundreds of millions annually—up to $815 million in recent years, while the organization has been labeled "wasteful, ineffective, and corrupt.”

With the withdrawal, all U.S. funding has ceased, personnel have been recalled from WHO offices worldwide, and activities have pivoted to direct engagements with other countries.

This "America First” strategy aims to reclaim sovereignty, save costs, and foster more accountable health collaborations, avoiding what the administration calls a "botched” global response that cost the U.S. economy trillions.

The WHO's refusal to implement meaningful reforms post-COVID-19 exacerbated these issues. Despite U.S. demands for greater accountability and governance changes, the organization failed to address political influences or improve coordination, leading to a loss of confidence.

The U.S. State Department highlighted that the WHO "trashed and tarnished” its own reputation through these shortcomings, justifying the exit as necessary for protecting