U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to pull the United States out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), accusing it of promoting anti-Israel bias and policies that conflict with American values, reports Baltimore Chronicle citing The New York Post.
Back in February, Trump ordered a 90-day review of the country’s participation in UNESCO, with a particular focus on identifying any signs of antisemitic or anti-Israel sentiment within the organization. Following the review, U.S. officials raised objections to UNESCO’s policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and highlighted what they perceived as a pro-Palestinian and pro-Chinese bias.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated that the President’s decision was driven by the organization’s support of “radical, divisive cultural and social ideas,” which, in her words, do not align with the values Americans voted for in November.
Among the cited concerns was UNESCO’s 2023 publication of a “toolkit to combat racism,” which encouraged member states to adopt anti-racist policies and take part in a “race to the top” in achieving social justice by addressing historical racism and promoting equality.
In 2024, the organization launched the “Transformation of Masculine Mentalities” initiative, further drawing criticism from the U.S. administration. UNESCO also released a report within its gender program last year, examining how video games could help advance gender equality.
The White House also accused UNESCO’s Executive Board of pushing anti-Israel and anti-Jewish measures, such as recognizing certain Jewish holy sites as “Palestinian world heritage.”
Another point of contention is China’s growing role within UNESCO. U.S. officials noted that Beijing is the organization’s second-largest financial contributor and that Chinese nationals hold key leadership positions. According to the administration, China is leveraging this influence to promote global standards that align with its own strategic interests.
Earlier we wrote about how war affects the mental health of Ukrainian schoolchildren: UNESCO study.