“Drill, baby, drill!” The rallying cry of President Donald Trump during his inaugural speech encapsulated his promise to reignite the U.S. fossil fuel sector and step back from “green agendas” as part of his “America First” campaign.

True to form, Trump wasted no time implementing his agenda. On his first day back in office, he signed executive orders withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, revoking former President Biden’s 50% electric vehicle (EV) target, and freezing unspent funds earmarked for expanding the U.S. EV charging network.

“I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off,” Trump declared before signing the order, emphasizing that the agreement harms the U.S. economy.

In a similarly controversial move, Trump signed another executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO). “The World Health Organization ripped us off. Everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen anymore,” he said.

While these actions reflect Trump’s determination to deliver on his campaign promises, they mark a sharp departure from the liberal institutionalist and multilateral approach the U.S. has embraced since World War II to foster global stability during times of crisis. Unsurprisingly, these decisions have ignited international criticism.

What It Means for the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change, adopted by 196 parties globally, that aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. As one of its leading architects under the Obama administration, the U.S.’s withdrawal is highly symbolic.

Explaining his motivations for withdrawal, Donald Trump stated, “The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.” His actions deliver on campaign promises to key voter groups, including climate change deniers, the U.S. oil industry, the anti-China bloc, and those eager to rekindle U.S. manufacturing.

While some may view the move as mere political optics, or a refreshing bout of transparency in an increasingly hypocritical global climate movement, it comes at an ironic time for the U.S. as smoldering cinders still linger in the Palisades region from one of the most disastrous wildfires in U.S. history—which was clearly fueled by climate change.

The withdrawal has already provoked a reaction from China, whose foreign ministry had a conveniently ‘presecheduled’ press conference on Tuesday morning, where it described climate change as a shared challenge for all humankind. In reaction to Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, a spokesperson stated that China remains committed to addressing climate change and promoting global green transformation.

Despite the federal withdrawal, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed confidence in U.S. cities, states, and businesses, which have previously said they will continue to work in alignment with the Paris Agreement. “It is crucial that the United States remains a leader on environmental issues,” said U.N. spokesperson Florencia Soto Nino. “The collective efforts under the Paris Agreement have made a difference, but we need to go much further and faster together.”

And the World Health Organization

Trump’s withdrawal from the WHO is largely fueled by his criticism of its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, perceived political influence by member states, and what he describes as “unfairly onerous payments.” As the organization’s largest financial backer, accounting for 18% of its $6.8 billion biannual budget, the U.S.’s exit puts programs tackling tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and health emergencies at risk.

China responded swiftly, stating that the WHO’s role in global health governance should be strengthened, not weakened. “China will continue to support the WHO in fulfilling its responsibilities and deepen international public health cooperation,” said Guo Jiakun, a foreign ministry spokesperson.

Trump’s executive order also ends U.S. negotiations on the WHO pandemic treaty. U.S. personnel working with the organization will be recalled, and the administration will seek partners to take over key activities previously funded through the WHO, according to experts speaking to Reuters on the matter.

Unintended Consequences

In pulling back from international agreements, Donald Trump risks triggering significant consequences, including weakening the U.S.’s position in addressing the global climate crisis and future pandemics.

Extreme weather, exacerbated by the climate crisis, cost the U.S. an estimated $500 billion in insured and uninsured losses in 2024 alone, according to AccuWeather.

The decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement sidelines the U.S. from global climate efforts and allows nations like China and the EU to take leadership roles.

Yet Donald Trump’s “America First” move strikes a chord with one of President Biden’s complaints- that other nations need to “pay up.” Biden lobbied for China to lose its “developing country” status in an effort to increase its financial contributions to global institutions, treaties, and initiatives.

The gamble of pulling out of major global alliances in an effort to force other countries to pick-up the tab comes with reputational risk, however. Reuters noted that the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement places the U.S. in the undesirable company of nations like Iran, Libya, and Yemen—the only other countries outside the landmark 2015 accord. Domestically, the move risks widening political divisions within the U.S., as blue states like California, cities, and businesses continue to align with the Paris goals despite federal withdrawal.

Meanwhile, Trump’s departure from the WHO risks weakening global health initiatives at a time when climate change is expected to exacerbate public health risks. These actions provide opportunities for other countries to assume leadership roles in climate and health governance, including countries like China which is also periodically criticized of being the source of COVID-19 and for its less-than-transparent way of handling the crisis.

Ultimately, the decision by Donald Trump reflects his “America First” ideology, but the long-term costs to U.S. global leadership, economic stability, and international cooperation remain uncertain.

As the world watches the fallout, questions linger about whether these moves are calculated strategy or a gamble with far-reaching consequences.