President Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will stop providing Israel with its annual roughly $4 billion in aid after the end of 2026, saying the two countries had already agreed to the change months ago.
Speaking by phone with Fox News’ Fox & Friends on the morning of the midterm elections, Trump said:
“Now, as far as paying Israel, Bibi Netanyahu and I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year, and we made a deal months ago that we’re stopping. We’ve already agreed that by the end of this year we won’t be paying Israel. Now we’ll help Israel if they need it.”
Trump added that Israel “doesn’t need it” because it is “a very thriving country,” and noted that the assistance includes military aid, cash, or other support. He said Netanyahu had raised the idea and that the two leaders had discussed ending the regular payments for years.
The current U.S.-Israel security assistance memorandum of understanding, signed in 2016, provides about $3.8 billion annually through 2028. Trump emphasized that the United States would continue to assist Israel if needed and that Israel could still purchase American weapons.
