Trump to Withdraw US from UNESCO Over 'Woke' and Anti-Israel Concerns
Today, we’re talking about a major international decision that’s shaking up global headlines — former President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will once again withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO. And this time, it’s not just about bureaucracy — it's about deep ideological divides.
Trump’s decision comes after a 90-day review of UNESCO’s policies and conduct, which, according to White House officials, revealed what they call a persistent bias against Israel, an increasing alignment with China, and a heavy promotion of “woke” initiatives that don’t align with what Trump describes as America’s core values. The White House says this review specifically examined whether UNESCO harbored anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment — and, in their view, the evidence was strong enough to justify pulling the plug.
According to White House Deputy Spokesperson Anna Kelly, Trump believes UNESCO is championing divisive cultural and social agendas that stray far from common-sense American principles. She emphasized that Trump is committed to putting "America First" and will ensure that any organization the US participates in must be consistent with national interests — not global ideological experiments.
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Among the most contentious issues were UNESCO's diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which critics in Trump’s circle label as overly ideological and politically charged. The 2023 “anti-racism toolkit” and 2024’s “Transforming MEN’talities” initiative were flagged as examples. These programs encourage countries to aggressively address racism and reshape gender norms — even promoting video games to challenge stereotypes. To Trump’s team, this signals a shift away from educational and cultural cooperation, toward what they see as social engineering.
UNESCO has also come under fire for its repeated decisions involving Israel. The organization has passed motions recognizing Jewish holy sites as “Palestinian World Heritage” locations and often refers to parts of Israel as “occupied Palestine,” while rarely condemning Hamas — a stance Trump’s administration views as both anti-Israel and anti-Jewish.
This isn’t the first time Trump has pulled the US out of UNESCO. He did it in 2017 for similar reasons. But the US later rejoined under President Joe Biden in 2023, arguing that being inside the organization was the best way to counter China’s growing influence. Biden’s administration even promised to pay back over $600 million in dues that had piled up since the US withdrew in 2011, when UNESCO granted full membership to Palestine.
Now, with Trump signaling another exit, we’re likely to see renewed debates about America’s role in international bodies, and whether global cooperation should come at the cost of national identity and political principles. Whether you agree with the move or not, it’s clear that this decision will have a ripple effect far beyond the walls of UNESCO — touching everything from foreign policy and cultural diplomacy to how we define fairness and influence on the world stage.
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