President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Trump ends Israel aid by the end of 2026, announcing that the United States will stop its roughly $4 billion in annual funding to Israel after this year. Trump said he had reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu months ago, and that Israel is fine with the decision.
Speaking on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” as Americans voted in the midterm elections, Trump said the United States currently gives Israel $4 billion a year. “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,” he said. “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.”
Why does Trump say he is ending aid to Israel?
Trump’s argument is simple: Israel no longer needs it. “Israel’s our number one [recipient]; we give them more than anybody else. And they no longer need it,” he said in the interview. “We’ve been doing it for years. Israel is a very thriving country. They don’t need it.”
He added that Israel had itself raised the idea. “He said, ‘I think it would be appropriate if we do not receive aid,'” Trump said of Netanyahu. The president also framed the move politically, saying some Democrats and left-wing politicians were using US financial support for Israel as a talking point to criticize Republicans. US aid to Israel amid the war in Gaza has been one of the most contentious issues leading up to the midterm elections.
What aid is actually covered by the announcement?
That is the part that remains unclear. Israel currently receives $3.8 billion annually in US security assistance under a 10-year memorandum of understanding signed in 2016, covering fiscal years 2019 through 2028. The agreement is due to expire at the end of 2028, not the end of 2026.
The two governments began formal talks in May on a new security cooperation framework to replace it, with Israel’s Defense Ministry saying the goal was to gradually transition from US aid toward a more reciprocal partnership. Netanyahu said in a May interview with CBS that he hoped to wean Israel off US military support within a decade. Trump did not explain how his reported agreement with Netanyahu would affect the existing framework, or whether the two governments had reached a formal arrangement to end payments before the current agreement expires.
Can the president end the aid on his own?
Almost certainly not without Congress. Any modification or cancellation of foreign military financing requires congressional approval, and the existing memorandum is backed by legislation. The US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on what form of aid Trump was discussing.
Congress has shown little appetite for cutting Israel aid outright. In July, the House voted 314 to 104 to defeat an amendment to cut off aid to Israel, offered by outgoing Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky — despite nearly half of Democrats supporting it. That vote reflected a growing rupture between US progressives and the pro-Israel mainstream, but it also showed that a large bipartisan majority still backs the funding.
What does this mean for the Middle East?
If the funding does end, it would mark the biggest shift in the US-Israel security relationship in decades. American military aid has underpinned Israel’s air defenses, munitions stocks and long-term defense planning for generations, and it is a pillar of the wider US security architecture in the Middle East.
Trump was careful to leave the door open. “Now we’ll help Israel if they need it,” he said, and he indicated that Israel could continue purchasing weapons and other supplies. His remarks therefore point to a proposed shift away from the existing annual funding arrangement rather than an outright withdrawal of American support. The extent and nature of any assistance after 2026 remain unclear from the details shared so far.
For now, the announcement rests on the president’s account of an understanding with Netanyahu. Its implementation will depend on the formal terms of any agreement, the required congressional action, and whether the deal Trump describes months ago actually exists in writing.
Key Facts
- Trump said the US will stop about $4 billion in annual aid to Israel by the end of 2026.
- He said he and Netanyahu made the deal months ago, and that Israel is “fine with it.”
- Israel currently receives $3.8 billion a year under a 10-year memorandum of understanding signed in 2016, running through 2028.
- Netanyahu said in May he hoped to wean Israel off US military support within a decade.
- The House voted 314 to 104 in July to defeat an amendment cutting off Israel aid.
- Any change to foreign military financing requires congressional approval.
FAQ
When will US aid to Israel end?
Trump said the United States will stop its annual funding to Israel by the end of 2026, under a deal he says he reached with Netanyahu months ago.
How much aid does the US give Israel each year?
Trump put the figure at $4 billion a year. The formal memorandum of understanding provides $3.8 billion annually in security assistance.
Does the existing Israel aid agreement end in 2026?
No. The current 10-year memorandum of understanding runs through fiscal year 2028. Trump did not explain how his announced end date squares with that agreement.
Can Trump end Israel aid without Congress?
No. Changes to foreign military financing require congressional approval, and the House voted 314 to 104 in July against cutting off the aid.
