By: Fern Sidman

President Donald Trump has formally ordered the United States’ withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a move the administration says is rooted in the organization’s “anti-America and anti-Israel leanings” and its promotion of what it labels a “woke” agenda. According to a report that appeared on Tuesday in The New York Post, this decision follows a comprehensive 90-day review that Trump commissioned earlier this year to assess the costs and implications of continued U.S. membership.

As The New York Post report indicated, the White House directed a particular focus in its review on UNESCO’s record regarding antisemitism, its posture toward Israel, and the breadth of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Administration officials confirmed that the review concluded UNESCO has repeatedly advanced positions hostile to both American interests and the Jewish state, while also promoting what the administration characterized as divisive cultural policies.

White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly said, “President 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 emphasized that the president remains committed to ensuring that American participation in international organizations aligns with national interests and priorities.

Among the initiatives flagged by administration officials was UNESCO’s 2023 “anti-racism toolkit,” a program calling on member nations to adopt anti-racist policies and engage in a global “race to the top” of social justice advocacy. The toolkit invited nations to examine their historical ties to racism and commit to achieving equity through proactive government action.

In addition, UNESCO’s 2024 “Transforming MEN’talities” initiative was singled out by the administration. According to the information provided in The New York Post report, this campaign focused on reshaping societal attitudes toward gender, especially targeting what it called “harmful gender norms.” UNESCO published a report highlighting work done in India and released findings on the role video games might play in promoting gender equality and countering discriminatory behavior. Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences Gabriela Ramos remarked at the time, “It is not only about controlling the negative impacts, but also relying on video games to address socio-cultural stereotypes and encourage positive, anti-discriminatory behaviors.”

The White House official cited by The New York Post stressed that these programs, alongside others, contributed to the decision to leave the organization. The administration contends that UNESCO’s focus on identity politics and social engineering undermines core American values and distracts from the agency’s original cultural and educational missions.

Beyond cultural issues, the administration expressed concern over UNESCO’s repeated political actions against Israel. Specifically, the U.S. objected to resolutions passed by UNESCO’s Executive Board that labeled Jewish holy sites as “Palestinian World Heritage” locations. According to the White House official quoted by The New York Post, UNESCO has habitually used language portraying Israel as an occupying power in Palestinian territories and has frequently condemned Israel’s military operations in Gaza — notably without corresponding criticism of Hamas and its governance over the Strip.

UNESCO’s anti-Israel stance was a key factor in Trump’s earlier decision to pull the U.S. from the agency in 2017, as was noted in The New York Post report. This recent move marks a continuation of that policy, reinforcing the administration’s longstanding position that UNESCO functions as a platform for political maneuvering rather than as a neutral global body.

Compounding these concerns is China’s growing influence within UNESCO.  Beijing ranks as the organization’s second-largest financial contributor and holds several key leadership roles, including Deputy Director-General Xing Qu. Administration sources told The New York Post that China has been leveraging its influence to shape UNESCO’s standards and policies in ways favorable to its geopolitical interests — including efforts to whitewash the treatment of minority populations such as the Uyghur Muslims in official narratives about Chinese history.

The Trump administration’s critique echoes sentiments first expressed during the Reagan era. The U.S. previously withdrew from UNESCO in 1983 under President Ronald Reagan, citing the organization’s politicization, hostility toward free societies, and lack of budgetary restraint. That precedent loomed large in the current administration’s deliberations.

Former President Joe Biden reversed Trump’s earlier withdrawal by rejoining UNESCO in 2023. According to the information contained in The New York Post report, the Biden administration justified rejoining on the grounds that an American presence within the organization was necessary to counter China’s growing influence. The Biden administration also pledged to repay more than $600 million in outstanding dues accrued since the U.S. halted financial contributions in 2011 — a move prompted at the time by UNESCO’s recognition of an entity called “Palestine” as a member state.

Now, with President Trump back in the White House, his administration is once again dismantling American ties with UNESCO. As The New York Post report emphasized, this withdrawal reflects a broader foreign policy approach aimed at minimizing U.S. involvement in multilateral organizations that conflict with American sovereignty or values.

The decision is likely to reignite debates within the international community about the role of global institutions in setting cultural and political norms. The New York Post report said that administration officials believe this move will serve as a signal to other international organizations that the U.S. will not tolerate agendas that undermine its allies or promote ideologically driven social engineering.

As with prior U.S. withdrawals, the consequences of this decision may have ripple effects on global cultural diplomacy and the balance of influence within UNESCO. But for now, President Trump appears resolute in his commitment to ensuring that American membership in international organizations reflects — first and foremost — the interests and values of the American people.