President Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO effective December 31, 2026, condemning the agency’s "woke, divisive cultural and social causes" and alleged anti-Israel bias. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly declared the move aligned with "America First" priorities, while State Department officials specifically cited UNESCO’s 2011 admission of Palestine as a member state calling it "contrary to U.S. policy" and a catalyst for anti-Israel rhetoric. This marks Trump’s second UNESCO exit, reversing Biden’s 2023 reentry and echoing Reagan’s 1984 withdrawal over similar "politicization" claims.
Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed "deep regret" but noted the decision was "anticipated." She emphasized UNESCO’s reforms since 2018, including diversified funding that reduced U.S. fiscal reliance to 8% of its budget, down from 22% in 2011. Voluntary contributions have doubled since 2018, mitigating the impact. Azoulay rejected U.S. accusations, highlighting UNESCO’s Holocaust education programs endorsed by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and 85+ member states. No staff cuts are planned.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised the withdrawal as "necessary for justice," accusing UNESCO of systemic anti-Israel bias. Conversely, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged "unwavering support," calling UNESCO a "universal guardian" of science and heritage. The agency reiterated its role as a "rare forum for consensus," citing collaborative Israeli-Palestinian agreements on heritage sites since 2017.
The U.S. has now exited UNESCO three times. Firstly, in 1984 when Reagan cited "financial mismanagement" and anti-Western bias, the second time in 2017 when Trump protested Palestine’s membership, and third being this time, in 2025 where Trump repeated the 2017 rationale, adding DEI initiatives like a 2023 "anti-racism toolkit" as grievances. The U.S. rejoined in 2003 after Bush-era reforms and in 2023 under Biden, who sought to counter Chinese influence.