Trump administration just cut ties with a major UN Agency— says it ‘supports woke, divisive causes’ – We Got This Covered

The Donald Trump administration has officially pulled out of UNESCO in a move the UN agency now calls “anticipated.”

The full withdrawal will take some time and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2026. The trend was apparent and was officially set in motion when Trump pulled out of another UN-affiliated agency — the World Health Organization — immediately after taking office again. At that time, he blamed the organization for mismanaging the COVID-19 pandemic and vowed to stop funding the global health agency or liaising with its findings, choosing instead to rely fully on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s instincts. But unlike the WHO, UNESCO could not have mishandled anything directly related to Trump’s agenda, so his reason for pulling out is broader.

UNESCO is best known for its World Heritage Site program, which includes Yosemite National Park and the Grand Canyon. The agency’s full name is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and it helps identify and preserve heritage sites around the globe. It hires top talent to share the best methods for achieving that mission. According to the agency’s director, Audrey Azoulay, who spoke to CNN, she both expected and regrets Trump’s decision, adding that it “may affect first and foremost our many partners in the United States of America.”

Trump’s reason for the decision was shared by White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly, who said, “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.”

In reality, this administration did not need much convincing to leave the organization, as Trump had already achieved it during his first term. The only reason the US rejoined was because Joe Biden reversed that decision while in office. This time, Trump reportedly zeroed in on UNESCO’s perceived anti-Israel or antisemitic sentiments. When he learned that the “State of Palestine” was a member state of UNESCO, the US pulled out. Trump has been at constant loggerheads with various organs of the UN.

Azoulay responded to the antisemitism claims, stating, “These claims also contradict the reality of UNESCO’s efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism.” However, a State Department spokesperson added that UNESCO’s “globalist ideological agenda for international development” is at odds with Trump’s America First foreign policy.

Time magazine predicts that the US leaving the organization will significantly hurt UNESCO, which heavily relies on contributions from member states, particularly the United States. The organization is now expected to seek measures to scale back its operations globally. That being said, not all international players were upset by Trump’s decision. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the move “necessary,” which carries weight given that Israel is currently supporting Trump’s bid for a Nobel Peace Prize.

The United States currently boasts 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Globally, these sites include the Pyramids of Giza, Notre Dame Cathedral, and other incredible landmarks. Trump’s administration has yet to announce how it plans to ensure that US heritage sites will retain their recognition alongside these other global sites.