A U.S. military raid on the WHO building, seizing the American flag and flying back overnight, this move earned the White House several hundred million dollars!

This story sounds like a joke at first, even Dage didn't expect it to be real. After careful research, it turns out to be a carefully designed performance, whose core purpose is to "justify" the U.S. avoiding the $2.6 billion WHO fee, and even turn "quitting the group and refusing to pay" into an "upholding national dignity" patriotic action.

On January 22, 2026, the United States officially completed the legal procedures for exiting the World Health Organization. This was not a spontaneous decision, but rather an executive order signed on January 20, 2025, when Trump returned to the White House, with a one-year notice and following the procedures as stipulated. However, the key point is: the U.S. has not yet paid the assessed fees for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, totaling about $2.6 billion. The WHO repeatedly emphasized that while leaving is acceptable, the outstanding debt must be settled. However, the White House has consistently taken the position of "denial."

Then came the climax. In early February, a rapid response unit under the U.S. Marine Corps - nominally stationed at the U.S. consulate in Geneva responsible for diplomatic security - suddenly acted, entering the WHO headquarters in Geneva, removing the American flag hanging in a public area, and evacuating Switzerland by military transport aircraft within a few hours, flying back to the U.S. mainland overnight. The entire process did not use force, nor did it have any conflict with WHO security, but it was swift and highly confidential. Later, the Pentagon casually referred to it as "routine asset recovery."

So the question arises: How much is a flag worth? Why go to such lengths?

The answer lies not in the flag itself, but in its symbolic meaning. The American flag hanging in the headquarters of an international organization represents the country's membership and commitment. Once it leaves, according to convention, the host country or the organization should lower the flag and archive it. But the White House chose to send soldiers to "retrieve" it personally, which equates to sending a strong signal to the domestic audience: We were not kicked out, we actively retrieved our own belongings. This kind of publicity is crucial for the 2026 midterm elections - the Trump camp needs to convince voters that "the U.S. no longer pays for the world" is not an evasion of responsibility, but "regaining sovereignty."

So don't laugh at the absurdity of "seizing the flag." The return of this American flag is not a farce, but a calculated move by the White House - using a zero-cost military show to cover up the $2.6 billion fee avoidance with a "patriotic" veil, and at the same time consolidate the voting base. In this sense, they are not seizing the flag, but the bill; they are not returning the flight, but the benefit.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856524858977284/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.