As she told the New York Post, US President Donald Trump has decided that the country should withdraw from UNESCO because it supports"woke and divisive cultural and social goals that are completely inconsistent with the common sense policies that Americans voted for in November."

Official White House approval for leaving UNESCO has not yet been received.

Such a decision would come into effect at the end of December 2026.

This will be the third time the US has withdrawn from UNESCO.

The last time the US withdrew from UNESCO was in 2018. Trump announced during his first presidency in 2017 that the US was withdrawing from the organization because it was biased against Israel.

During the administration of Trump's successor, Joe Biden, in 2023, the United States returned to UNESCO after a five-year hiatus.

The administration of former US President Barack Obama cut off funding to UNESCO after the Palestinian Authority was declared a full member of the organization in 2011. At that time, Israel also cut off funding to UNESCO.

Washington first withdrew from UNESCO in 1984 under Ronald Reagan, citing poor leadership and anti-Western attitudes. After a 19-year hiatus, the US resumed membership in 2003 under the George W. Bush administration, as Bush sought to gain UN support for his tough stance on Iraq.