Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
President Donald Trump has pulled the United States out of UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural and educational agency.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, founded in 1945 in the aftermath of World War II with the mission to promote “peace and international cooperation through education, science, culture, and communication.” Its initiatives span over 190 member states, with programs active in regions affected by conflict and natural disasters. While widely respected for efforts like safeguarding cultural landmarks and promoting literacy, UNESCO has faced criticism from some member countries over alleged political bias.
What’s going on now: In an announcement on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the United States will once again withdraw from UNESCO, with the decision set to take effect on December 31, 2026. This will be the third time the United States has exited UNESCO, having previously withdrawn in both the 1980s and again during Trump’s first term. Trump’s administration criticized UNESCO for promoting what it called “woke, divisive cultural and social causes” that conflict with the principles of his “America First” foreign policy.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated, “President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO — which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November.” She added, “This President will always put America First and ensure our country’s membership in all international organizations aligns with our national interests.”
The State Department elaborated on the administration’s rationale, with spokeswoman Tammy Bruce criticizing UNESCO’s 2011 decision to admit Palestine as a member state as a central reason for the withdrawal, calling it “highly problematic” and suggesting it had fueled “anti-Israel sentiment within the organization.” According to Bruce, “UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy.”
UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed regret over the decision, acknowledging that the organization had anticipated the move. She said, “The reasons put forward by the United States to withdraw from the Organization are the same as seven years ago even though the situation has changed profoundly.” Azoulay added that “political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism.”
Despite the upcoming US exit, UNESCO says it’s financially and operationally prepared for the US to pull out. Since the last US withdrawal in 2017, the agency has diversified its funding base, with American contributions now making up only about 8% of its budget.
