Trump claims US will stop $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by year's end

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will cease providing approximately $4 billion in annual military assistance to Israel after the end of 2026. The statement, delivered during a phone interview with Fox News, landed on the morning of the congressional midterm elections, a timing that underscored the political weight of the issue in Washington.

Israeli security and financial officials described the news as unexpected. A representative from the Finance Ministry told the Walla news site that while the ministry knew about the intention to end the aid, they were surprised by the immediate timeline. The official noted that no formal document had been submitted from the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the change.

The defense sector reacted with similar shock. A senior defense official told the Kan public broadcaster that the announcement was not anticipated, especially on the day of the midterms. The official stated that ongoing dialogue with American counterparts is continuing, but the decision has yet to reach professional military staff for detailed review.

Gadi Eisenkot, the chairman of the Yashar party, criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the sudden shift. Eisenkot demanded that Netanyahu provide answers to citizens that evening, arguing that learning about such a strategic change through the media demonstrated a lack of trust in the leadership.

Trump justified the move by claiming a prior agreement with Netanyahu to stop the payments. He stated that Israel has become a successful country and no longer requires the funds. The president also cited a desire to avoid criticism from opponents like Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee in Michigan, who has challenged the level of US support for Israel.

The current ten-year memorandum of understanding, signed in 2019, allocates $3.8 billion annually to Israel and does not expire until the end of 2028. Netanyahu has previously discussed ending the aid gradually over the next decade, with remarks to The Economist in January and CBS in May suggesting a timeline of up to ten years to reach zero support.

Since 1948, the United States has provided more than $300 billion in economic and military assistance to Israel, adjusted for inflation, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Under the 2025 budget, Israel’s Defense Ministry received a record 110 billion new Israeli shekels, part of a total defense budget of 136 billion shekels.