  We consider $2$-dimensional integer rectifiable currents which are almost
area minimizing and show that their tangent cones are everywhere unique. Our
argument unifies a few uniqueness theorems of the same flavor, which are all
obtained by a suitable modification of White's original theorem for area
minimizing currents in the euclidean space. This note is also the first step in
a regularity program for semicalibrated $2$-dimensional currents and spherical
cross sections of $3$-dimensional area minimizing cones.
