The White House has announced that the United States will once again withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), effective December 2026. This marks the second time the US has pulled out of the UN cultural agency under President Donald Trump’s leadership, with the administration citing “anti-Israel rhetoric” and “woke, divisive” causes as primary reasons.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated on Tuesday that continued membership in UNESCO was not in the US’s “national interest” and characterized the agency’s mission as “divisive.” She specifically pointed to UNESCO’s decision in 2011 to admit the State of Palestine as a member, calling it “highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.”
Bruce further criticized UNESCO’s commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which include objectives like poverty reduction, gender equity and climate change action, labeling them as evidence of “a globalist, ideological agenda.”
The decision comes after the US had rejoined UNESCO in 2023 under then-President Joe Biden, following a previous withdrawal by the Trump administration in 2017. Since assuming office for a second term in January, President Trump has pursued an “America First” agenda, aiming to reverse Biden-era initiatives and limit US engagement with various international organizations.
This latest move follows similar withdrawals of US support for the World Health Organization (WHO) and a February executive order that severed funding for the UN Human Rights Council.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly reinforced the administration’s stance, stating on social media, “President Trump has decided to withdraw from UNESCO – which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes. The President will always put America First. Our membership in all international organizations must align with our national interests.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the US decision on social media, calling it a “necessary step, designed to promote justice and Israel’s right for fair treatment in the UN system.” He urged the UN to undertake “fundamental reforms” to address what he described as “politicization.”
However, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed deep regret over the US decision but noted that it was not unexpected.
She reiterated that “UNESCO’s purpose is to welcome all the nations of the world, and the United States of America is and always will be welcome,” while also disputing accusations of unfair treatment towards any member states. Azoulay affirmed that the withdrawal would not halt UNESCO’s engagement with other organizations within the US.
The Trump administration had previously sanctioned judges on the International Criminal Court involved in probes concerning Israeli and US forces, and in July, sanctioned Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories.
