The Bureau News | Washington, D.C.
The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will once again withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), citing concerns over what it described as the agency’s “divisive cultural agenda” and continued bias against Israel.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, White House Deputy Spokesperson Anna Kelly said the decision was made in alignment with the “America First” foreign policy doctrine.
“President Donald 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,” Kelly said.
“This president will always put America first and ensure our country’s membership in all international organizations aligns with our national interests.”
Strong Support From Israel
The move was welcomed by Israeli officials, who have long criticized UNESCO for what they perceive as anti-Israel bias.
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon applauded the decision, describing it as a bold assertion of moral clarity in international diplomacy.
“The U.S. continues to demonstrate moral clarity… and makes it clear that it is unwilling to support entities that promote hatred, historical revisionism, and political divisiveness,” Danon said.
Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar, also praised the decision, saying it was a necessary step toward ensuring fairness for Israel within the U.N. system.
“Singling out Israel and politicization by member states must end, in this and all professional U.N. agencies,” he said.
Criticism of UNESCO’s Direction
According to State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, the administration sees no further value in continued participation with UNESCO.
“UNESCO’s focus on globalist agendas, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, is out of step with our America First policy,” Bruce said. “Their 2011 decision to admit the ‘State of Palestine’ as a full member has only encouraged anti-Israel rhetoric.”
Trump had initially withdrawn the U.S. from UNESCO in October 2017, a decision reversed by President Joe Biden in 2023. The recent move, however, reinforces the Trump administration’s long-standing position that the organization has not meaningfully addressed earlier concerns.
Ongoing Tensions With the U.N.
The U.S. withdrawal also comes amid rising friction between the Trump administration and the wider U.N. body. Recent actions by the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation have drawn criticism from international entities, while U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has openly voiced concerns over American cuts to foreign aid, warning of “devastating” consequences for vulnerable global populations.
As the Trump administration continues to chart its foreign policy, this renewed break with UNESCO underscores its intent to distance itself from what it sees as biased or ideologically driven international bodies.
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