ambassador kelly craft

Exclusive interview with kentucky native and u-k gradudate kelly craft...the u-s ambassador to the united nations.

She spoke virtually to the rotary club of lexington today about her job...its challenges...and what's happening in china.

Abc 36's bobbi mcswine talked to ambassador craft about what it means now that the united states is no longer part of the world health organization...which coordinates international public health efforts, including the global response to the pandemic.

###### kelly craft...united states ambassador to the united nations...says pulling out of the world health organization was the right thing to do.

"the who, who we have supported financially, was not transparent on providing and being forthcoming on information concerning covid."

Crafts says...including that the coronavirus could spread from person-to-person.

The w-h-o's website says it released guidance on how to manage the outbreak in early january.

But...craft says the w-h-o had ulterior motives.

"we firmly belive that w- h-o was nothng but a mouthpiece for china."

China set off the global pandemic.

The w-h-o and president trump initially praised china for its transparency.

But that praise later turned to harsh criticism by the trump administration.

"when the president ran for election, he ran on the fact that we have to focus inward on america, we have to mind our own because we were so dependent on china."

Reports show the united states is the largest funder of w-h-o....responsible for more than 400- million dollars a year.

Craft says cutting ties with the organization means that money can be spent at home.

"we are focusing on mit, the mayo clinic, on john hopkins, on different organizations."

Bobbi mcswine: "what do you think the implications will be for public health going forward?'

"this was not the first pandemic, and it's not going to be the last.

We will build upon the best practices.

We will unlearn our bad practices.

We will change from our mistakes and become stronger."

Cutting ties with the w-h-o won't be effective until next july, leaving open the possibility that, should donald trump lose reelection, a biden administration could reverse the decision, which the former vice president says he would do immediately upon taking office.

In lexington...bobbi mcswine...abc 36