The Trump administration has announced that the United States will withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), effective December 2026. This decision marks the second time in less than a decade that the US has withdrawn from UNESCO under President Donald Trump.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce argued that membership in UNESCO was not in the US’s “national interest” and called the agency’s mission “divisive”. She pointed to several points of discord, including Palestine’s participation in UNESCO and alleged “anti-Israel” sentiment in its ranks. “To admit the ‘State of Palestine’ as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation,” Bruce said.
The US has long been a vocal supporter of Israel, and its withdrawal from UNESCO is seen as a move to protect its ally’s interests. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the decision, saying it was a “necessary step, designed to promote justice and Israel’s right for fair treatment in the UN system”. Saar also called on the UN to undertake “fundamental reforms” to prevent politicization and ensure fair treatment of all member states.
However, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay disputed the accusation that it had treated any of its members unfairly. “UNESCO’s purpose is to welcome all the nations of the world, and the United States of America is and always will be welcome,” Azoulay said. She added that the US government’s decision to withdraw was not unexpected and that UNESCO would continue to work with American partners in the private sector, academia, and non-profit organizations.
The withdrawal from UNESCO is part of the Trump administration’s “America First” agenda, which prioritizes US interests above all else. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly framed the decision as a move to advance US interests, saying, “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.”
This is not the first time the US has withdrawn from UNESCO. In 2018, the Trump administration withdrew from the organization, citing alleged bias against Israel. The US rejoined UNESCO in 2023 under President Joe Biden but has now withdrawn again under Trump’s leadership.
UNESCO’s commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, including reducing poverty, increasing gender equity, and fighting climate change, was also cited as a reason for the US withdrawal. The Trump administration views these goals as part of a “globalist, ideological agenda” that does not align with US interests.