Trump Says US Will End $4 Billion in Aid to Israel by Year-End 2026

US President Donald Trump has said that the United States will stop providing around $4 billion in annual financial assistance to Israel after the end of 2026.

In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, November 3, Trump said he had discussed the move with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several months ago. He argued that Israel had become financially strong enough to manage without American assistance.

The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, as support for Israel becomes an increasingly debated issue in American politics.

Trump said ending the financial assistance would also address criticism from Democratic politicians, who have questioned Washington's continued support for Israel. However, he did not explain how the funding would be stopped or what changes would be made to the existing US-Israel military aid agreement.

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Existing Military Agreement Raises Questions

The United States currently provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military assistance under a 10-year agreement signed in 2016. The arrangement is scheduled to remain in place until September 2028.

Under the agreement, $3.3 billion is provided through the Foreign Military Financing programme, which allows Israel to purchase American military equipment. Another $500 million is allocated for joint research and development of missile defence systems.

Trump's announcement has raised questions about whether the United States plans to end the entire arrangement before its scheduled expiry. Although he referred to around $4 billion in annual assistance, he did not provide details about which funding programmes would be affected.

Ending the existing agreement could also require discussions with Congress, which plays an important role in approving US foreign military assistance. This could make an early withdrawal from the arrangement more complicated.

Trump indicated that the decision would not necessarily end defence cooperation between the two countries. He said Israel would still be able to purchase American weapons and that Washington could provide further assistance if needed. Neither the White House nor Netanyahu's office immediately responded to requests for comment following Trump's remarks, according to Reuters.

Political Debate Over US Support for Israel

Trump also connected the decision to growing criticism of American military support for Israel. The issue has become more prominent in US politics, particularly among Democratic voters following the Israel-Gaza war, which began in 2023.

During the interview, Trump mentioned Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan who has criticised unconditional American military support for Israel. Trump argued that the issue had become a political challenge for Republicans, particularly as opposition to continued funding grows among some voters.

A June survey by Quinnipiac University found that 48% of American voters believed the United States was too supportive of Israel. This was a significant increase from 16% in 2017. Among Democratic voters, the share rose from 20% to 66% during the same period.

The debate has also reached Trump's Republican base, where some supporters have questioned the amount of money the United States spends on overseas military commitments.

Netanyahu has also spoken about reducing Israel's dependence on American financial assistance. In an October interview with Israeli television, he said the country should prepare for a future in which it receives less support from Washington.

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Trump's latest comments could signal a change in the financial relationship between the two countries. However, the details of the proposed decision remain unclear. While American weapons sales and defence cooperation may continue, ending the existing military assistance arrangement would require further discussions over funding and security commitments.