U.S. to leave UN cultural agency UNESCO again, diplomats say

The United States has officially decided to leave UNESCO again, with the State Department citing ideological differences and UNESCO expressing deep regret over the move.

The United States withdrew from the United Nations cultural organisation UNESCO on Tuesday, stating that continued involvement was not in the U.S. national interest.

"UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy," said State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce in a statement.

UNESCO Director-General said in response: "I deeply regret President Donald Trump’s decision to once again withdraw the United States of America from UNESCO – a decision that will take effect at the end of December 2026."

The decision, reported earlier by two European diplomats and confirmed by the New York Post citing a White House source, comes as President Trump continues to distance the U.S. from international organisations he has long criticised. The White House has not yet released an official statement.

This marks another blow to the Paris-based agency, which was founded after World War II to promote peace through education, science, and culture. UNESCO is known for its designation of World Heritage Sites, such as the Grand Canyon and Syria’s Palmyra.

Trump has a history of pulling the U.S. out of major international agreements and organisations. During his previous term, he exited the World Health Organization, the U.N. Human Rights Council, the global climate accord, and the Iran nuclear deal. President Joe Biden reversed those moves during his term, rejoining UNESCO and other international efforts in 2021.

With Trump now back in office, the U.S. is again retreating from global institutions. He has already declared plans to exit the WHO and suspend funding for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, pending the results of a broader review of U.S. engagement with UN bodies expected in August.

The U.S. first joined UNESCO in 1945 but withdrew in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, citing financial mismanagement and anti-American sentiment. It rejoined in 2003 during President George W. Bush’s administration, following organisational reforms.

Currently, the U.S. contributes around 8% of UNESCO’s budget, a significant decrease from the 20% it once provided before Trump’s earlier withdrawal from the agency.

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