Deeper dive into Trump's @WHO letter... Big threat, but clearly without intent for actual reform. Let's all be clear: this is a political tool aimed primarily at a US domestic audience. Does not mean it's not damaging & disruptive. Inaccuracies abound...

Let's start w the last para: President threatens if WHO doesnt make unspecified improvements in 30 days he will withhold funding permanently. This is how we know this is pure posturing: A)If serious we would have seen proposal at least mentioned at #WHA73, but nothing... /2

B) The Impoundment Control Act. As @USGAO has said "The president has no unilateral authority to impound funds" appropriated by Congress. Threat to make this permanent would be illegal. Congress annually appropriates to WHO and that funding must flow. The WHO problem is.../3

Congressional action needed: directly appropriated $ every year is not up to Pres but significant portion of $ that flows to WHO, comes b/c agencies like CDC, USAID decide to support on HIV, TB, malaria, polio, etc IS in danger.
@jenkatesdc @joshmich/4 https://www.kff.org/news-summary/kff-updates-fact-sheet-on-u-s-government-world-health-organization/

Back to letter: Trump says that the @WHO ignored information coming before China reported that was reported in @TheLancet. This is just false, as Lancet editor @richardhorton1 has said.
This is just odd fact to make up /5 https://twitter.com/richardhorton1/status/1262662304048562176?s=20

...says there were reports in Chinese media a few days before China outbreak. Ok, but claim WHO knew about these, had indication they were real, entirely lacks evidence. Plenty of reason to believe China did not act quickly enough, but @WHO does not have all knowing powers./6

Next Trump says WHO made inaccurate statements. I feel like a broken record, but...
A)on human-to-human transmission:US officials who are confused about meaning of "preliminary" or didnt watch the PRESS CONFERENCE should prob not have jobs /7 https://twitter.com/MMKavanagh/status/1262411631511908352?s=20

B)Trump upset @DrTedros said good things about Chinese transparency. Look, I wasnt a fan of how that was phrased, but Trump said pretty much the exact same thing a few days before. Spare me the fake outrage./8

Trump upset that China denied some Americans joining WHO team in Wuhan. Mr. President: if serious about trying to get US personnel there, it's best if your administration doesnt publicly talk about how it's using the outbreak strategically in a trade war. ~feigned outrage~/9

Says #Taiwan tried to warn WHO about H2H transmission and was ignored. This is oft-repeated misinformation. Taiwan email, came SAME day as Chinese notification to WHO, and said NOTHING about H2H /10

So here's the point: This letter is NOT an effort at reform (should not be reported as such). It is an election-year tool meant to focus attention away from Trump Admin and toward WHO, Dr. Tedros, and China. It is inaccurate, illogical, and threatened actions would be illegal/11

Tragic reality is between the misinformation are kernels of truth: it ~is~ hard for WHO to get accurate info, especially from P5-power like China, #IHRs are ~not~ working as imagined, world ~does~ have to grapple w/global political realignment. letter makes all that harder...