President Donald Trump justified the decision by pointing to UNESCO’s “anti-America and anti-Israel leanings” and what his administration calls its “woke agenda.”
In February 2025, Trump ordered a 90-day audit of U.S. participation in UNESCO, focusing on identifying instances of antisemitism. The White House, following the review, expressed disagreement with UNESCO’s policies on inclusion, racial equality, and gender transformation.
Examples cited include UNESCO’s anti-racism initiatives, the 2024 “Transforming MEN’talities” gender project, and a report on video games promoting anti-discrimination behavior.
The administration also highlighted UNESCO’s “anti-Israel policies,” such as designating Jewish holy sites as “Palestinian world heritage” and condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza without criticizing Hamas.
Additionally, the administration noted China’s growing influence, with Beijing being UNESCO’s second-largest sponsor and Chinese nationals holding key positions. The White House claims China uses UNESCO to advance its agenda, including downplaying the role of Uyghur Muslims in its history.
This marks the second U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO under Trump, who previously initiated an exit in 2017, also citing anti-Israel bias. In 2023, President Joe Biden rejoined the organization to counter China’s influence.
The White House now states that the United States is leaving UNESCO “permanently.”