At a press conference on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo set aside the glaring statistics on coronavirus cases and deaths in the U.S., telling reporters, "Of course the U.S remains the world leader in the pandemic."

He added that the "world turns its eyes" to American scientists and researchers to develop treatments and to U.S. aid to assist the developing world in fighting their own outbreaks.

However, the United States has set an all-time record for new COVID-19 cases for the third week in a row, confirming more than 367,000 new infections this week, while the number of hospitalizations and deaths has also seen a rapid rise, according to the COVID Tracking Project. 

Trump formalized his withdrawal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization, notifying the United Nations on Monday that the U.S. will depart the agency.

The move drew criticisms from bipartisan lawmakers, medical associations, advocacy organizations and allies abroad.

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U.S. official withdrawal from WHO triggers widespread criticism

U.S. withdrawal from WHO widely condemned by health experts

The Lancet published a comment on its website Wednesday, saying that the U.S. decision to quit the WHO violates U.S. law and puts its health and security at risk.

Noting that U.S. agencies, pharmaceutical corporations and labs depend on the WHO Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework to get new influenza virus samples for research and development, it said the withdrawal could make it difficult for the country worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic to develop biological countermeasures to influenza, as the novel coronavirus, besides seasonal influenza, will pose a serious challenge for health system capacities worldwide this autumn. 

Pompeo didn't offer any specifics on Wednesday, instead blasting the WHO for a "long history of corruption and politicization. On balance, that organization has not been able to deliver on its core mission for decades."

Ironically, three months ago, he told Americans to "be aware of and proud of our vast commitments to these important institutions. They not only help citizens around the world, but they protect Americans and keep us safe here as well."

(With input from agencies)