In a bold move that’s sure to ruffle globalist feathers, the Trump administration has announced the United States’ exit from UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural and educational arm, citing a profound mismatch with American priorities.
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of UNESCO, echoing a similar decision from his first term in 2017, while slamming the organization’s focus on what his team calls divisive social agendas at odds with national interests, Fox News reported.
This isn’t the first time the U.S. has walked away from UNESCO, having withdrawn in October 2017 under Trump’s initial presidency for nearly identical reasons. The country rejoined in 2023 under the Biden administration, only to see Trump reverse course again with a renewed emphasis on America First principles.
The core of the Trump administration’s gripe lies in UNESCO’s alleged support for cultural and social causes that don’t align with the values of everyday Americans. Critics within the administration argue that UNESCO’s heavy focus on the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals pushes a globalist vision that sidelines U.S. sovereignty.
“UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy,” declared State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce. Well, there’s a mouthful of diplomatic disdain—if “globalist” is the buzzword of the day, UNESCO just got tagged.
Another sticking point is UNESCO’s decision to admit the ‘State of Palestine’ as a member, a move the U.S. sees as contrary to its foreign policy stance. This, paired with accusations of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization, has fueled the administration’s resolve to step away.
Let’s rewind to 2017, when the U.S. first exited UNESCO under Trump’s watch, driven by the same concerns about bias and misplaced priorities. Fast forward to 2023, and the Biden team thought rejoining would patch things up; they miscalculated how deep the divide runs.
“President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO – which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November,” said White House Deputy Spokesperson Anna Kelly on July 15, 2025. If that’s not a polite way of saying “we’re done with this nonsense,” then nothing is.
Israel, a close U.S. ally, has cheered the decision, with officials pointing to UNESCO’s track record of what they call politicization and unfair treatment. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon praised the move as a stand for “moral clarity” in international forums.
“This is a necessary step, designed to promote justice and Israel's right to fair treatment in the U.N. system, a right which has often been trampled due to politicization in this arena,” stated Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar. It’s a sharp reminder that not everyone at the U.N. table plays nice—or fair.
Sa’ar doubled down, adding, “Singling out Israel and politicization by member states must end, in this and all professional U.N. agencies.” When even allies are calling out the bias, you have to wonder if UNESCO’s mission has drifted too far from its roots.
Meanwhile, the broader international community isn’t exactly popping champagne over the U.S. departure. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has raised alarms about Trump’s foreign aid cuts, warning of dire consequences for vulnerable groups—a concern that, while valid, doesn’t address why UNESCO’s focus feels so misaligned to many Americans.
Back home, the State Department isn’t holding back in justifying the withdrawal. In a pointed statement, Tammy Bruce reiterated, “Continued involvement with UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States,” making it clear that this administration refuses to fund agendas it sees as counterproductive.
At the same time, even as the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation draws criticism from the U.N. and other international voices, the Trump team stays the course. They prioritize national interests over international approval. In effect, it’s a classic America First chess move—bold, unapologetic, and sure to keep critics buzzing for weeks.
So what’s next? This shift raises serious questions about the future of the U.S.-UNESCO relationship and broader U.S. engagement with global organizations. Although the administration hasn’t slammed the door shut entirely, it has made one thing clear: any partnership must now pass a strict “America First” litmus test. For the time being, UNESCO has failed that test.
Ultimately, this move sends a strong message to international bodies—adapt to geopolitical realities, or risk losing key players at the table.
