For the Second Time, Trump Orders Withdrawal from UNESCO

The US President Donald Trump today, Tuesday, ordered the United States to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), repeating a step he had previously ordered during his first term and was reversed by his predecessor Joe Biden.

The withdrawal from the organization, based in Paris, which was established after World War II to promote peace through international cooperation in the fields of education, science, and culture, will take effect on December 31, 2026.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said: "President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO, which supports extremist and divisive cultural and social issues that are completely contrary to the sound policies that Americans voted for in November".

The US State Department confirmed that staying in UNESCO is not in the national interest, describing the organization as pursuing a "global and ideological agenda for international development that conflicts with our foreign policy based on America First".

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed deep regret over Trump's decision, while noting that it was an "expected decision that UNESCO was prepared for".

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on "Twitter", "Our strong support for UNESCO, which globally protects science, oceans, education, culture, and world heritage".

He added: "The withdrawal of the United States will not affect our commitment to those who are fighting that battle".

Azoulay said UNESCO diversified its funding sources, as it only received about 8% of its budget from Washington.

UNESCO was one of several international bodies from which Trump withdrew during his first term, along with the World Health Organization, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the UN Human Rights Council. During his second term, he largely reversed these steps.