Trump Has Made A Decision On The US Withdrawal From UNESCO

• 22.07.2025, 13:50

The White House said China's influence in the organization is growing.

The United States is withdrawing from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the second time.

It was reported by The New York Post.

President Donald Trump attributed the decision to the organization's "anti-American and anti-Israel policies" as well as its, in the administration's words, "woke" agenda.

Even in February, Trump ordered a 90-day audit of U.S. participation in UNESCO, with a focus on detecting anti-Semitism.

After the audit, the White House said it disagreed with the organization's policies on inclusion, racial equality and gender transformation.

The administration cited UNESCO's anti-racism initiatives, gender projects like MEN'talities in 2024, and a report on the role of video games in shaping anti-discriminatory behavior.

Separately, the administration cited UNESCO's "anti-Israel policy," in particular its recognition of Jewish holy sites as "Palestinian heritage" and its condemnation of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip without criticizing Hamas.

The growing influence of China is also noted: Beijing has become UNESCO's second largest donor, with Chinese nationals holding key positions in the organization.

U.S. Withdrawal

The administration believes that China is using the organization to promote its own agenda, in particular downplaying the role of the Uighurs in the country's history.

This is not the first time the U.S. has withdrawn from UNESCO.

In 2017, Trump already initiated a withdrawal, also accusing the organization of bias against Israel. In 2023, President Joe Biden returned the country to the organization, arguing it was necessary to counter China's influence.

The U.S. is now withdrawing from UNESCO again - and this time, according to White House officials, "permanently."