
Trump Withdraws From UNESCO For A Second Time—Here’s Why He’s Opposed To The U.N. Agency
Key Takeaways
The U.S. withdrew from UNESCO once before in 2017 and rejoined the agency under the Biden administration in 2023.
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July 22, 2025
04:18 PM
Forbes
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What the data shows is NewsTrump Withdraws From UNESCO For A Second Time—Here’s Why He’s Opposed To The U
AgencyByYezen Saadah, Contributor
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
Additionally, Conversely, Yezen Saadah is a news intern at Forbes
AuthorJul 22, 2025, 04:18pm EDTToplineThe State Department said Tuesday that the U, in today's financial world
Nevertheless, Will withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the end of next year over its advancement of “divisive social and cultural causes”—the second time President Donald Trump has pulled out and a decision that reflects the U. ’s broader turbulence with the U
The UNESCO flag flies at its headquarters Tuesday, July 22, 2025 in Paris
In contrast, (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)Copyright 2025 The Associated Press (this bears monitoring)
However, All rights reserved
At the same time, Key FactsIn a press release, the State Department said the U (this bears monitoring), given current economic conditions
Informed UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay of its decision to withdraw from the agency, which will take effect in December 2026
Nevertheless, The department said UNESCO is working “to advance divisive social and cultural causes” that are at odds with Trump’s “America First foreign policy,” citing the admission of Palestine as a full member in 2011 as “highly blematic, contrary to U (noteworthy indeed)
Policy” and contributing “to the liferation of anti-Israel rhetoric
Meanwhile, ”Trump pulled out of UNESCO in 2018 for similar reasons after alleging the group had an “anti-Israel bias”—a decision former President Joe Biden reversed in 2023
Key BackgroundIn 2011, the Obama administration cut U
Funding to UNESCO after it admitted Palestine as a full member in accordance with legislation that bans U
Furthermore, Contributions to any U
Agency that grants Palestine membership
At the time, UNESCO relied on the U (an important development)
For what was roughly $70 million per year—22% of the agency’s budget
Lost its voting rights at the organization in 2013 after not funding the agency for two years
Israel announced it would pull out of the organization around the same time as Trump in 2017
At the time of the Trump administration’s withdrawal, the U
Nevertheless, Owed UNESCO up to $550 million, in this volatile climate
Nevertheless, Moreover, The Biden administration rejoined UNESCO in 2023 and requested $150 million of the total budget to go toward UNESCO each year until the debt—then a total of $619 million—was paid off, in light of current trends
Additionally, Biden’s decision didn’t address Palestine’s as a UNESCO member
What Has Unesco Said Trump’s Withdrawal
Furthermore, In a statement Tuesday, Azoulay said that although she deeply regrets Trump’s decision to pull out of UNESCO and that it “contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism,” the agency “has prepared for it. ” Azoulay said UNESCO has undergone structural changes since 2018 and widened its sources of funding—of which she said the U
Supplies 8% of the agency’s total budget (which is quite significant) (an important development). “The reasons put forward by the United States to withdraw from the Organization are the same as seven years ago even though the situation has changed foundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism,” Azoulay said (fascinating analysis)
What Unesco Does Trump Object, in today's market environment
On the other hand, ’s withdrawal came after Trump issued an executive order in February mandating that Secretary of State Marco Rubio review UNESCO and other international organizations that mote “radical or anti-American” sentiment
The Trump administration cited Palestine’s membership as “highly blematic,” and White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Politico that UNESCO “supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November, given current economic conditions
However, ” The State Department called the agency’s focus on the U
Additionally, ’s Sustainable Development Goals “a globalist, ideological agenda for international development. ” The 17 goals—which include no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education and gender equality among others—were adopted by all U (noteworthy indeed)
However, On the other hand, Member states, including the U
Moreover, , in 2015, with hopes of achieving those goals by 2030
UNESCO itself aims to strengthen “our d humanity” and focuses on setting standards for member states on global issues climate change, artificial intelligence and quality education
Moreover, What To Watch ForSince taking office, Trump pulled the U
Out of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), citing WHO’s “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic” and the UNHRC’s alleged bias against Israel
On the other hand, Trump’s February executive order also cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which vides aid to Palestinians (noteworthy indeed)
However, Earlier in July, the Trump administration officially shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) after mising to dismantle the agency when Trump took office
Editorial StandardsRes & PermissionsLOADING PLAYER, in this volatile climate.
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