Symbolic imageTrump says US military aid to Israel ends this year, surprising Israeli officials
President Trump said the US will stop its roughly $4bn in annual military aid to Israel at the end of 2026, two years before the current deal expires. Israeli officials appeared to be caught off guard.
Speaking by phone to Fox & Friends on US midterm election day, Tuesday, 3 November, Trump said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed months ago to end the payments, and that Netanyahu raised the idea. Israel could still buy American weapons, he said, and "we'll help Israel if they need it." He linked the move to domestic politics, saying aid had become a bad talking point because of critics such as Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. He gave no details, while the current 10-year memorandum provides $3.8bn a year through 2028.
Opposition blames Netanyahu
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot said Israel's defense establishment learned of the shift through the media and that Netanyahu "must be replaced." Yair Golan said the funding burden would now fall on the Israeli public, and Avigdor Liberman said the price of Trump's endorsement is "$3.8 billion per year." Netanyahu's office had not commented, according to Folha.
Unclear scope and timing
The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel's defense establishment had planned to use around $8bn over the next two years, and that some Israeli officials speculate Trump meant 2028. Netanyahu had previously spoken of phasing out aid over about a decade, and Trump said nothing about funds Congress has already appropriated.