Argentina’s President Javier Milei addressed the audience at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 23, 2025. During a Bloomberg event the day before, he expressed his support for former President Donald Trump, stating, “The world should celebrate the arrival of President Trump.” This eagerly anticipated online appearance by Trump at the WEF came shortly after he began his second term in office.
In a separate development, Argentina announced its decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO). This announcement was made by presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni on Wednesday, following Trump’s recent executive order for the United States to exit the organization. Milei, who sees Trump as a close ally, initiated Argentina’s withdrawal due to “deep differences” with the WHO regarding its management of health issues, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adorni highlighted the lengthy lockdown Argentina experienced under the previous leftist administration and criticized the WHO for its perceived lack of independence from political influences.
Trump had previously voiced similar concerns about the WHO, arguing that the agency mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and other health crises, while also demanding what he deemed “unfairly onerous” financial contributions from the United States, its largest donor.
