The White House announced Washington’s decision to withdraw from UNESCO – the UN organisation for education, science and culture. This is due to the “absolute inconsistency” of the organisation’s policy with the values of President Donald Trump’s constituents. The decision will take effect in December 2026.
“UNESCO supports a woke culture that fuels cultural and social divisions, which is absolutely contrary to the common-sense policies Americans voted for in November,” Reuters quoted White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly as saying. According to her, the decision to withdraw was made by the president.
The US State Department cited the reason for UNESCO’s recognition of Palestine as a member state. The report states that it contradicts American policy and “helps anti-Israeli rhetoric within the organisation”.
UNESCO expressed regret over the incident and rejected accusations of anti-Semitism. The organisation’s office is based in Paris and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “unwavering support” for it on Web X.
This will be the third time the US has left the organisation. The first time was in 1984, when Washington made it clear that it considered UNESCO a corrupt organisation with poor management that supported the Soviet Union.
On its return in 2003, the US withdrew from UNESCO again in Donald Trump’s first term, before returning under the Joe Biden administration.