Trump orders US withdrawal from UNESCO, again
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The news: US President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO, accusing the agency of supporting “woke, divisive cultural and social causes.”
The US informed UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay on Tuesday that it will remain a full member until the withdrawal takes effect on 31 December 2026.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said involvement with the group was not in the interest of the United States.
She cited UNESCO’s decision to admit Palestine as a member state and its “outsized focus” on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as reasons for the withdrawal.
The context: The US had pulled out of UNESCO in 2017 during Trump’s first term after ceasing funding in 2011 when UNESCO admitted Palestine as a full member.
The Biden administration rejoined in 2023, arguing that absence allowed powers like China to fill the vacuum.
In February 2025, Trump ordered a review of US involvement in UNESCO, the UN Human Rights Council and UNRWA.
What they said: “Like many UN organizations, UNESCO strayed from its founding mission. Going forward, US participation in international organizations must make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” Bruce posted on X.
UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay regretted the decision and said the withdrawal ignored the organisation’s efforts to promote Holocaust education and fight antisemitism.
In a social media post French President Emmanuel Macron said: “Unwavering support for UNESCO, a universal guardian of science, the Ocean, education, culture, and world heritage. The withdrawal of the United States will not weaken our commitment alongside those who lead this fight.”
The source: US Department of State
