THE UNITED STATES WITHDRAWS FROM UNESCO

The White House announced on Tuesday July 22, 2025, that Donald Tramp has decided to withdraw the United States from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO), the U.N. cultural and educational agency, which he termed as woke and divisive. This marks a repeat of his earlier decision during his first term, which was later reversed by President Joe Biden. The withdrawal from the Paris- based organization, established after World War II to foster global peace through cooperation in education, science, and culture, will take effect at the end of 2025.

The move aligns with Trump’s America First foreign policy, which has consistently expressed skepticism toward multilateral institutions, including the U.N., the World Trade Organization, and NATO. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated that UNESCO promotes divisive culture and social causes that clash with the commonsense policies Americans voted for. The State Department further criticized the agency for advancing a globalist, ideological agenda that conflicts with U.S. priorities. The U.S. also took issue with UNESCO’S decision to admit Palestine as a member state calling it highly problematic and accusing the organization of enabling anti-Israel rhetoric.

UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay expressed deep regret over the decision but noted it was expected and that the agency had prepared accordingly. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed unwavering support for UNESCO, calling it the universal protector of world heritage, and affirmed that France’s commitment would remain strong. Officials from UNESCO acknowledged that the U.S. withdrawal would affect some American-funded programs but emphasized that only about 8% of the agency’s budget comes from Washington. During Trump’s first term, he exited the World Health Organization, the Paris Climate Accord, and the U.N. Human Rights Council, steps he has largely reinstated since returning to office.