Trump Says $4 Billion in Aid to Israel Will End This Year

The United States will stop providing Israel with nearly $4 billion in annual military and financial assistance packages by the end of the year, President Trump announced Tuesday, arguing that the longtime ally has grown wealthy enough to no longer require American support.“Why? Because they don’t need it,” Mr. Trump told Fox News on Tuesday, when asked why the aid was being cut.Speaking in a telephone interview on the morning of the American midterm elections, Mr. Trump said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reached an understanding months ago to phase out the roughly $4 billion Israel receives from Washington each year.“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,” Mr. Trump said. He went on to clarify the timeline after hosts pressed him repeatedly. “We were giving them $4 billion. We are, but it gets cut off at the end of the year,” he said.Mr. Trump insisted the decision originated with Mr. Netanyahu, not the White House. “Can I be honest with you? He brought it up. He brought it up,” Mr. Trump said, adding that Mr. Netanyahu told him, “I think it would be appropriate if we do not receive aid.” Mr. Netanyahu has previously described the shift as a decade-long process, not one concluding within weeks, as Mr. Trump now claims.Since its founding in 1948, Israel has been the largest recipient of American foreign aid, including military assistance. Since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in 2023, both the Biden and Trump administrations have pledged nearly $22 billion for Israel’s defense and military operations. In return, Israel has made large purchases of military acquisitions from the United States and served as a frontline partner in the Middle East.But Americans are losing faith in the federal aid. “Today, a combined majority (56%) of Americans say US military aid to the country should be either decreased (21%) or stopped altogether (35%), up considerably from when first asked in 2012 (combined 38% agreed),” Global Affairs reported this month. “On the other hand, a combined 43 percent favor continuing the same level of aid to Israel (35%) or increasing it (8%), down considerably since first asked in 2012 (60% combined).”Despite ending the annual assistance package, Mr. Trump stressed that Israel would not be left without support. “Now we’ll help Israel if they need it. You know they’ve been a great ally,” he said.He also confirmed that Israel would remain free to purchase American-made weapons going forward. “Oh yeah, they can buy whatever they want. They can buy whatever they want. So can Europe,” Mr. Trump said.Mr. Trump’s announcement raises questions about the current American-Israel memorandum of understanding, a 10-year agreement signed in 2016 that provides $38 billion in military assistance through 2028, including $3.3 billion annually in foreign military financing and $500 million for joint missile-defense programs. That funding remains subject to congressional appropriation, meaning an informal understanding between the two leaders would not automatically cancel it.Mr. Netanyahu has previously signaled interest in reducing Israel’s reliance on American aid. In a May interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” he said, “I want to taper off American support for Israel to zero,” adding, “We’ve come of age.”

Trump Says $4 Billion in Aid to Israel Will End This Year

Trump Says $4 Billion in Aid to Israel Will End This Year

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