Trump decides on US withdrawal from UNESCO - NYP
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The United States is withdrawing from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the second time, according to The New York Post.
President Donald Trump explained this decision by the organization's anti-American and anti-Israeli policies and its awakened agenda, according to the administration.
Back in February, Trump ordered a 90-day audit of US participation in UNESCO with a focus on identifying cases of anti-Semitism.
As a result of the audit, the White House declared its disagreement with the organization's policies on inclusion, racial equality, and gender transformation.
Examples include UNESCO's anti-racism initiatives, gender projects such as MEN'talities in 2024, and a report on the role of video games in shaping anti-discriminatory behavior.
Separately, the administration mentions UNESCO's anti-Israeli policy, including the recognition of Jewish holy sites as Palestinian heritage and condemnation of Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip without criticizing Hamas's actions.
The growing influence of China is also emphasized: Beijing has become UNESCO's second-largest sponsor, and key positions in the organization are held by Chinese citizens.
US withdrawal
The administration believes that China is using the organization to promote its agenda, in particular by downplaying the role of the Uighurs in the country's history.
This is not the first time the United States has withdrawn from UNESCO.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 that it was necessary to counter China's influence.
Now, the United States is withdrawing from UNESCO again, and this time, according to the White House, "forever."
US and foreign aid
The Trump administration is distancing itself from global institutions that it considers inconsistent with its economic policy.
In particular, in the first week of his presidency, Trump withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization, but legally, the United States will only leave the WHO in 2026 - according to the organization's charter, a year's notice of withdrawal is required. At the same time, the United States is the largest financial donor to the WHO and allocates 18% of its budget.
The US State Department has also suspended programs to clear unexploded ordnance.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Ukraine has also suspended its projects and funding.
