Trump Says US to End $4bn Annual Military Aid to Israel by Year-End
Trump announced on election day that the US will cut nearly $4bn in annual military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, saying Israel does not need it.
The story in focus
US President Donald Trump said in an election-day Fox News interview that the US will end nearly $4bn in annual military aid to Israel by the end of the year, claiming Israel does not need it and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had proposed the move. Israeli officials appeared surprised.
- Trump said the US will cut nearly $4bn in annual military aid to Israel by the end of 2026.
- Trump claimed the aid would be replaced by arms sales to Israel.
- Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had raised the idea of ending the aid.
- Israeli officials appeared surprised by the announcement, and opposition leaders criticized Netanyahu.
- The aid currently funds purchases of US military hardware including F-35 jets and joint missile defense programs.
Announcement and rationale
US President Donald Trump said in a phone interview with Fox News on election day that the US will end nearly $4bn in annual military aid to Israel by the end of this year. Trump said Israel does not need the aid and claimed it would be replaced by arms sales. He also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had approached him about ending the aid, though Netanyahu had previously suggested tapering it over the next decade.
Trump linked the decision to domestic politics, saying the aid had become a criticism of US foreign policy led by candidates including Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. Trump said the US should not suffer such criticism when Israel does not need the money.
Israeli reaction and aid details
Israeli officials appeared to be taken by surprise by the announcement. Leading opposition figures criticized Netanyahu, with Gadi Eisenkot saying the security establishment and citizens were learning of a change in the strategic relationship through the media, and Yair Golan saying a responsible prime minister would have fought to increase American aid.
Israel received most of approximately $3.8bn in 2025 as foreign military financing grants, which allow it to buy US military hardware including F-35 fighter jets. Another $500m was given for joint missile defense programs. The announcement comes after Netanyahu's party lost its majority in the Knesset in last week's elections.
What did Trump say about the reason for ending the aid?
Trump said Israel does not need the nearly $4bn in annual military aid and that it would be replaced by arms sales. He also claimed Netanyahu had proposed the move.
Sources & further reading
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