President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States of America from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) over allegations that the agency has demonstrated anti-Israeli sentiments over the past decade. 

“Today, the United States informed Director-General Audrey Azoulay of the United States’ decision to withdraw from UNESCO. Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States,” Tammy Bruce, a state department spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s announcement came after the White House said in February that it was conducting a 90-day review of the United States membership of UNESCO, stating the agency has “demonstrated failure to reform itself, has continually demonstrated anti-Israel sentiment over the past decade, and has failed to address concerns over mounting arrears.”

The Trump administration reiterated the same position in its withdrawal statement, noting that UNESCO had derailed from its original mission to promote “divisive” social and cultural causes around the world, while faulting the organisation’s decision to admit Palestine as a member state.

“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. UNESCO’s decision to admit the “State of Palestine” as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation,” Ms Bruce said.

She added, “Continued U.S. participation in international organisations will focus on advancing American interests with clarity and conviction. Pursuant to Article II (6) of the UNESCO Constitution, U.S. withdrawal will take effect on December 31, 2026. The United States will remain a full member of UNESCO until that time.”

It is the third time that the U.S., a founding member and a huge financial backer of UNESCO, has left the education and cultural agency since it was established in 1945. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan pulled the U.S. out of UNESCO before it rejoined in 2003 under the George Bush administration.

Mr Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agency in 2017 during his first tenure before his successor Joe Biden reinstated the country’s membership in 2023.