On Monday, January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump was sworn into office as the 47th U.S. President. Within hours of beginning his second term as President, the New York native signed several executive orders pertaining to immigration, energy and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Among those executive orders included a move to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). Formed in 1948, the organization helps “coordinate the world’s response to health emergencies, promote well-being, prevent disease and expand access to health care.” However, the Trump-Vance administration argues it’s in the best interest to distance the country from WHO “due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.”
The newly-inaugurated person did not stop there. On Monday, the Florida resident signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement. Officially launched in 2016, the agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. More specifically, it works to limit long-term global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels. However, Trump believes “the United States’ successful track record of advancing both economic and environmental objectives should be a model for other countries.” European Climate Foundation CEO Laurence Tubiana called the New York native’s decision to withdraw the United States from the agreement unfortunate.
“The impacts of the climate crisis are also worsening. The terrible wildfires in Los Angeles are the latest reminder that Americans, like everyone else, are affected by worsening climate change,” Tubiana said.
It is the second time that the former reality show host has pulled out of the agreement. During his first term, he also indicated his decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement.
