Trump to pull out of major UN organisation due to 'woke policies'

Former President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO—the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization—following a 90-day review of the agency’s policies and activities, according to White House officials.

UNESCO, a UN body known for promoting international cooperation in education, science, culture, and heritage, is also responsible for designating World Heritage Sites. However, concerns over the agency’s internal policies and geopolitical alignments reportedly led to the decision.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the New York Post that the administration took issue with UNESCO’s diversity and inclusion policies, as well as what it described as pro-Palestine and pro-China bias. Kelly stated that “President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO – which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November."

The decision, which is set to take effect at the end of December next year, reflects a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy during Trump’s presidency. His administration had previously withdrawn from several international bodies, including the World Health Organization, the UN Human Rights Council, and the Paris Climate Accord. The Iran nuclear deal was also abandoned under Trump, causing rifts with several key U.S. allies.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce cited UNESCO’s 2011 decision to admit the “State of Palestine” as a full member as a contributing factor. That move was seen by U.S. officials as inconsistent with American foreign policy and, according to Bruce, “helped fuel anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.”

UNESCO’s growing ties with China were another point of concern. Chinese officials currently occupy a number of senior roles within the agency, and Beijing is its second-largest financial contributor. According to the White House, China has used its influence within UNESCO to push for global standards that align with its strategic interests.

Despite the controversy, the U.S. has played a major role in UNESCO over the decades. Historically, it contributed up to 20% of the agency’s total budget, though that number had dropped to around 8% in recent years. The U.S. only rejoined UNESCO in 2023 under President Joe Biden, after Trump’s initial withdrawal during his first term.

UNESCO officials were reportedly unsurprised by the move, having anticipated the outcome of the Trump-ordered review earlier in the year.