President Donald Trump has directed the United States to withdraw from UNESCO, citing what he describes as the organization’s “anti-America, anti-Israel” stance, its growing alignment with China, and a shift toward radical diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
The White House announced that the decision follows a series of UNESCO actions viewed as hostile to U.S. interests, including resolutions favoring Palestinian leadership, the elevation of officials with strong pro-Palestinian ties, and a growing number of initiatives rooted in DEI ideology. Trump also criticized the agency’s alleged deference to Beijing’s influence on global policy and cultural programming.
Effective immediately, the U.S. will halt all financial contributions to UNESCO and begin the formal process of withdrawing from the international body. President Trump stated that American values and taxpayer dollars should not support institutions that “undermine freedom and democracy.”
The move renews Trump’s longstanding skepticism of multilateral organizations and reinforces his administration’s pivot toward prioritizing national sovereignty over global consensus.