WHO responds to Trump's threat to cut funding: 'Now is not the time'

A senior figure in the WHO has said that its funding should not be cut during the pandemic, after Donald Trump threatened to stop paying his country's contribution to the organisation.

Dr Hans Kluge, the WHO's regional director for Europe, said: "We are now in an acute phase of the pandemic - now is not the time to cut back on funding."

Dr Kluge made the comment in relation to a threat issued by the US president on Tuesday.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Trump accused the WHO of handling the coronavirus crisis badly: "They called it wrong. They really - they missed the call. And we're going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO. We're going to put a very powerful hold on it and we're going to see."

When pressed by reporters, he quickly backtracked by saying he was only looking into a possible suspension of funds.

Earlier the same day, the president posted a message criticising the organisation on Twitter: "The W.H.O. really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric. We will be giving that a good look."

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