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Coronavirus US live: Trump's decision to cut WHO funding sparks outrage Coronavirus US live: Trump's decision to cut WHO funding sparks outrage
(32 minutes later)
Trump’s announcement yesterday that he would cut off US funding to the World Health Organization deemed ‘dangerous’ and ‘obscene’Trump’s announcement yesterday that he would cut off US funding to the World Health Organization deemed ‘dangerous’ and ‘obscene’
Wisconsin senator Tammy Baldwin also announced her endorsement of Joe Biden this morning, as the presumptive nominee continues to consolidate support among prominent Democrats.
“From making it harder for people to afford their health care, to senseless trade wars that have hurt our dairy farmers and workers, Donald Trump’s policies have not worked for Wisconsin families,” Baldwin said in a video announcing the endorsement.
“Now more than ever, our families are wondering where they’re going to get their next paycheck or can they keep their small businesses afloat. They need a champion in the White House and that champion is Joe Biden.”
Baldwin could become a crucial surrogate for Biden, considering Wisconsin narrowly voted for Trump in 2016 and Democrats hope to recapture the battleground state in November.
Joe Biden has received a string of endorsements from fellow Democrats this week, as the party seeks to unify before the November general election.
Both Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who disagreed with Biden during the presidential primary on issues ranging from health care to college debt relief, have now endorsed him and explicitly asked their supporters to back him.
It seems Democrats are trying to avoid a repeat of 2016, when Sanders and Hillary Clinton battled through a contentious primary that left many of Sanders’ supporters frustrated with the Democratic nominee.
Some Democrats have cited the frustration among Sanders’ supporters as one factor that led to Clinton’s loss to Trump, especially considering how states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania were decided by less than 1 point.
Elizabeth Warren’s video endorsing Joe Biden acknowledges that the two Democrats have many differing policy views, which were underscored during the primary.
“Among all the other candidates I competed with in the Democratic primary this year, there’s no one who I’ve agreed with 100% of the time over the years,” Warren says in the video announcing her endorsement.
“But one thing I appreciate about Joe Biden is that he will always tell you where he stands. When you disagree, he’ll listen — not just listen, but really hear you. And treat you with respect, no matter where you’re coming from. And he has shown throughout this campaign that when you come with new facts or a good argument, he’s not too afraid or too proud to be persuaded.”
When Bernie Sanders announced his endorsement of Biden earlier this week, Biden said he would need Sanders’ help “not just to win the campaign but to govern,” indicating the presumptive nominee may consult with his former primary rivals as he moves toward the general election.
Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren has endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential bid, an announcement that comes a month after Warren suspended her own campaign for the White House.Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren has endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential bid, an announcement that comes a month after Warren suspended her own campaign for the White House.
In a statement announcing the endorsement, Warren applauded Biden for his long record of government service and issued an explicit warning about the dangers of having Trump in the White House amid a global crisis.In a statement announcing the endorsement, Warren applauded Biden for his long record of government service and issued an explicit warning about the dangers of having Trump in the White House amid a global crisis.
“Joe Biden has spent nearly his entire life in public service. He knows that a government run with integrity, competence, and heart will save lives and save livelihoods,” Warren said. “And we can’t afford to let Donald Trump continue to endanger the lives and livelihoods of every American.”“Joe Biden has spent nearly his entire life in public service. He knows that a government run with integrity, competence, and heart will save lives and save livelihoods,” Warren said. “And we can’t afford to let Donald Trump continue to endanger the lives and livelihoods of every American.”
Leaders from around the world have come forward to criticize Trump’s decision to halt funding to the WHO.Leaders from around the world have come forward to criticize Trump’s decision to halt funding to the WHO.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement, “Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences.”UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement, “Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her country would continue to provide financial support to the organization.New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her country would continue to provide financial support to the organization.
“At a time like this when we need to be sharing information and we need to have advice we can rely on, the WHO has provided that,” Ardern said.“At a time like this when we need to be sharing information and we need to have advice we can rely on, the WHO has provided that,” Ardern said.
And German foreign minister Heiko Maas said Trump’s decision to cut off funding in the middle of a pandemic was nonsensical. “The virus knows no borders,” Maas said in a tweet.And German foreign minister Heiko Maas said Trump’s decision to cut off funding in the middle of a pandemic was nonsensical. “The virus knows no borders,” Maas said in a tweet.
The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished. And it has emerged that the UK government is refusing to directly criticise Trump’s decision to freeze funding for the World Health Organisation.The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished. And it has emerged that the UK government is refusing to directly criticise Trump’s decision to freeze funding for the World Health Organisation.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said that the UK would continue to support the WHO, but he declined any invitation to say anything critical about Trump’s stance. Asked for the UK’s response to the president’s move, the spokesman said:Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said that the UK would continue to support the WHO, but he declined any invitation to say anything critical about Trump’s stance. Asked for the UK’s response to the president’s move, the spokesman said:
When asked if the government was disappointed by Trump’s decision to freeze payments to the WHO, the spokesman said:When asked if the government was disappointed by Trump’s decision to freeze payments to the WHO, the spokesman said:
By contrast, in an interview with LBC this morning, the new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was happy to criticise the US president’s decision. Starmer said:By contrast, in an interview with LBC this morning, the new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was happy to criticise the US president’s decision. Starmer said:
Follow the Guardian’s UK live blog for the latest from No 10:Follow the Guardian’s UK live blog for the latest from No 10:
Good morning, live blog readers.Good morning, live blog readers.
Donald Trump’s announcement yesterday that he would cut off US funding to the World Health Organization in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic has sparked outrage, and even some of the president’s allies are not rushing to defend the decision.Donald Trump’s announcement yesterday that he would cut off US funding to the World Health Organization in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic has sparked outrage, and even some of the president’s allies are not rushing to defend the decision.
Former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said the funding halt was “obscene,” and Bill Gates called the WHO decision “as dangerous as it sounds.”Former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said the funding halt was “obscene,” and Bill Gates called the WHO decision “as dangerous as it sounds.”
Dr Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said this morning that the WHO and the CDC have a “long history of working together” that will continue despite the latest decision.Dr Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said this morning that the WHO and the CDC have a “long history of working together” that will continue despite the latest decision.
When pressed on whether he agreed with Trump’s assessment that the WHO had failed in its handling of the pandemic, Redfield dodged the question and instead said he would like to conduct a “postmortem” once the US is through the worst of the crisis.When pressed on whether he agreed with Trump’s assessment that the WHO had failed in its handling of the pandemic, Redfield dodged the question and instead said he would like to conduct a “postmortem” once the US is through the worst of the crisis.
However, Trump’s decision could make the US more vulnerable at a time when many governors are warning the virus is not yet conquered.However, Trump’s decision could make the US more vulnerable at a time when many governors are warning the virus is not yet conquered.