The U.S. has withdrawn from the UN Human Rights Council and is preparing to exit UNESCO.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This was reported by AFP and dpa, referencing a statement from the White House.

As noted by AFP, Trump's order also includes a review of US participation in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The new White House Secretary Will Sharpe spoke about the "anti-American bias" within UN institutions.

"In a broader sense, the order calls for a review of American funding to the UN in light of the vast discrepancies and funding levels among different countries," Sharpe added.

"I have always felt that the UN has tremendous potential. But right now, this organization is not realizing that potential," Donald Trump stated while signing the document. "It is not well managed and is not doing its job."

The US funding for pro-Palestinian UNRWA was halted back in January 2024 under Joe Biden after Israel accused 12 agency employees of involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

At that time, following the US decision, funding for UNRWA was also stopped by over ten other developed countries, including Germany, Britain, Japan, and Australia. Canada, Sweden, and Italy canceled their contributions but later resumed payments.

Before this, the US was the largest donor to UNRWA, providing $300–400 million annually. During Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021, he had already suspended funding for UNRWA.

Background. Previously, Trump signed an executive order aimed at combating anti-Semitism, which allows for the deportation of foreigners, including students, who participated in pro-Palestinian protests, as reported by The New York Post.

The order, published on the White House website, is titled "Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism."

As explained by the New York Post, in practice, the order could lead to the deportation of foreigners, particularly those on student visas, who violated US laws during the pro-Palestinian protests that began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.