President Donald Trump says that the U.S is severing all ties with World Health Organisation over coronavirus

Trump announced that the U.S is cutting all ties to the WHO due to the organization helping China to promote misinformation about the coronavirus situation. 

President Donald Trump has announced that the U.S has severed all ties with the World Health Organization (WHO) over its handling of the coronavirus epidemic.

The move to leave the Geneva-based company, which the United States formally incorporated in 1948, comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over the spread of the coronavirus. The virus first appeared in Wuhan, China, late last year.

Speaking at the White House Rose Garden, Trump said Chinese authorities had neglected their reporting responsibilities on the WHO - which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide.

'Despite paying only 40 40 million a year, China has full control over the World Health Organization, which pays about 4 450 million a year,' he said.

Trump's decision follows a pledge by Chinese President Xi Jinping last week to give the WHO 2 2 billion over the next two years to fight the coronavirus. This is roughly the same as the WHO's full annual program budget last year.

Trump cut off funding to the 194-member organization last month, then gave the WHO a 30-day deadline to implement reforms in a May 18 letter.

'Because they have failed to make the requested and improved reforms, we will end our relationship with the World Health Organization today and transfer these funds to other parts of the world that deserve urgent health care at the surface,' Trump said on Friday.

It was not immediately clear when the decision would take effect. The 1948 joint congressional resolution on WHO membership states that the country "reserves the right to withdraw from the organization on one year's notice."

The World Health Organization didn't promptly react to a solicitation for input on Trump's declaration. Prior, they denied Trump's accusations that they have been promoting China's misinformation about the coronavirus.

'It is important to remember that the WHO is a platform for cooperation between countries.' 'Leaving this important institution in the midst of this historic epidemic will hurt people in the United States and around the world.'