Trump Says US Will End Annual Military Aid to Israel by Year End

President Donald Trump said on November 3 that the United States will end annual military assistance to Israel by the close of 2026 after reaching an understanding with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump made the statement in a telephone interview with Fox News while voting was underway in the midterm elections. He described the figure as roughly $4 billion a year and said the two leaders had agreed months earlier that the payments would stop. He added that Israel no longer needs the funding because it has become economically successful and that Washington would still assist if required. Arms sales would continue, he said.

The existing memorandum of understanding signed in 2016 provides $3.8 billion annually in military aid and is scheduled to run through fiscal year 2028. Israeli officials and analysts noted that the formal agreement does not expire until then. Trump did not detail the mechanism for ending the payments early. Israeli defense sources expressed surprise at the timing of the announcement.

Trump linked the decision to domestic politics. He said left-wing Democratic candidates had used US support for Israel as a talking point against Republicans. He specifically referenced Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate who later won the Michigan Senate seat. Netanyahu had previously indicated in a May interview that he wanted to reduce US financial support over time, though he did not specify an immediate cutoff.

The announcement arrived on the same day voters delivered control of Congress to Democrats. US public support for Israel has declined in recent years according to multiple polls, particularly after the Gaza conflict. The $3.8 billion package has funded a mix of missile defense systems, aircraft and other American-made equipment under the 2016 accord.

Neither the White House nor the Israeli Prime Minister's office issued immediate formal clarifications beyond Trump's remarks. Conversations about the shape of post-2028 assistance had already been underway. The practical effect on 2027 funding remains unclear pending further implementation steps.

The statement marks a public shift in the long-standing US-Israel security relationship. Israel has received consistent American military financing for decades. Any early end to the current memorandum would require administrative action or legislative adjustment given the existing framework. Markets and regional actors will watch for concrete follow-through in the coming weeks.