Trump Announces Plan to End $4 Billion in Annual US Aid to Israel by December 2026

Trump Announces Plan to End $4 Billion in Annual US Aid to Israel by December 2026

US President Donald Trump has announced that Washington will end approximately $4 billion in annual assistance to Israel by the end of 2026, claiming the country has become economically strong enough to support itself.

Trump made the announcement during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, November 3, revealing that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reached an agreement on the decision several months ago.

According to the president, Israel no longer needs the financial support, arguing that continued American funding has become unnecessary given the country’s economic position.

Trump also questioned why the United States should continue providing billions of dollars to Israel while facing political backlash at home over the assistance. He specifically criticised Democratic politicians who have made American military support for Israel an issue in their campaigns.

The announcement, however, does not signal a complete end to military cooperation between the two countries. Trump maintained that Israel would still be able to purchase American-made weapons and receive assistance if necessary.

The proposed change could mark a significant shift in the longstanding relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv. The existing 10-year military assistance agreement, which provides Israel with approximately $3.8 billion annually, is scheduled to run until September 2028.

Trump’s announcement has reportedly caught Israeli defence and financial officials by surprise, with questions remaining over how the proposed withdrawal would be implemented and whether the existing agreement can be ended ahead of schedule.

Neither Netanyahu’s office nor the White House had issued an official response to the announcement at the time of reporting.