THE Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it will once again withdraw from the United Nations cultural agency Unesco, a move that follows US withdrawal from other international organisations.

The decision to pull US funding and participation from the agency comes two years after the Biden administration rejoined following a controversial, five-year absence that began during President Donald Trump’s first term. 

The White House cited similar concerns as it did in 2018, saying it believes US involvement is not in its national interest and accused the agency of promoting anti-Israeli speech.

The decision, which won’t go into effect until December 2026, will deal a blow to an agency known for preserving cultural heritage through its Unesco World Heritage Sites programme, which recognises significant landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, Egypt’s pyramids and the Grand Canyon National Park. 

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the withdrawal was linked to Unesco’s perceived agenda to “advance divisive social and cultural causes.”

She added that the decision in 2011 “to admit the ‘state of Palestine’ as a member state is highly problematic and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation.”

Unesco director-general Audrey Azoulay denied accusations of anti-Israel bias, saying it contradicts “the reality of Unesco’s efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against anti-semitism.”