"They’re Anti-Israel": Trump Pulls U.S. Out of UNESCO
President Trump announces U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO, citing antisemitism, anti-Israel bias, and Chinese influence. “UNESCO promotes a failed globalist vision.”
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President Donald Trump has ordered the United States to withdraw from UNESCO, the UN’s cultural and educational agency, citing its “anti-American, anti-Israel, and culturally radical” agenda, according to a report published Tuesday by the New York Post.
The decision follows a months-long internal review that Trump initiated earlier this year, focusing on what the administration described as institutional antisemitism, anti-Israel bias, and a dangerous tilt toward progressive activism.
“The President has decided to pull out of UNESCO, an organization that promotes divisive social and cultural initiatives fundamentally opposed to the sane, common-sense policies Americans voted for,” said White House Deputy Spokeswoman Anna Kelly. “This President will always put America first and ensure our international participation aligns with national interests.”
One of the flashpoints: a 2023 “anti-racism toolkit” promoted by UNESCO, which encouraged member states to adopt radical policies on racial equity and even use video games to promote “anti-discriminatory behavior.”
“It’s not just about mitigating harm,” said Gabriela Ramos, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences. “It’s also about harnessing games to cultivate positive values.”
Systemic Bias Against Israel and Growing Chinese Influence
Trump officials highlighted what they view as systematic discrimination against Israel within UNESCO, including resolutions declaring Jewish heritage sites as “Palestinian heritage” and repeated use of terms like “occupation” while ignoring terrorism by Hamas.
“UNESCO has weaponized its institutions to promote anti-Jewish narratives while remaining silent on Palestinian terror,” a White House official said.
The administration also raised alarm over UNESCO’s deepening ties to China, noting that Beijing is now the organization’s second-largest financial contributor. Key positions, including Deputy Director-General Xing Qu, are held by Chinese officials.
“The Chinese Communist Party is using UNESCO to advance its strategic interests, rewriting history and whitewashing abuses—including the Uyghur genocide,” the official added.
History Repeats Itself: U.S. Leaves UNESC - Again
This is not the first time Washington has parted ways with the Paris-based agency. The U.S. previously withdrew under President Ronald Reagan in 1983, citing political bias and financial mismanagement. In 2017, Trump similarly pulled out due to anti-Israel bias, although the exit formally took effect in 2018.
President Joe Biden reversed course in 2023, arguing that rejoining UNESCO was critical to counter growing Chinese influence. His administration also pledged to repay over $600 million in back dues that had accumulated since 2011, when the U.S. stopped paying after UNESCO granted full membership to Palestine.
Now, Trump is reasserting his doctrine of unapologetic nationalism and challenging what he sees as a radical and hostile international bureaucracy.
“UNESCO doesn’t represent American values. It doesn't represent Jewish values. It represents a failed globalist vision that’s out of touch with reality,” a senior administration source told JFeed.