United States President Donald Trump has announced that Washington will end approximately $4 billion in annual assistance to Israel by the end of 2026, claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to the decision.
Trump made the announcement on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during an interview with Fox News, saying the two leaders had reached an understanding months earlier to discontinue the funding.
According to the president, Israel has become economically successful and no longer requires the financial support, which he described as a substantial expense for American taxpayers.
“By the end of this year, we won’t be paying Israel,” Trump said, reiterating his claim that an agreement had already been reached with Netanyahu.
However, the announcement has raised questions about the implementation of the proposed change, the categories of assistance affected and its implications for the longstanding US-Israel security relationship.
Trump also connected the planned withdrawal of aid to growing political criticism of American assistance to Israel, particularly among Democratic politicians.
The US president argued that continued funding had become a political vulnerability for Republicans, with opponents questioning why Washington provides billions of dollars in assistance to a foreign ally while Americans face domestic economic pressures.
He specifically referenced Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has criticised unconditional American military assistance to Israel.
Trump argued that ending the funding would remove an issue being used against Republicans during the American midterm election campaigns.
The announcement comes amid increasing debate in the United States over foreign military assistance, the cost of international commitments and Washington’s relationship with Israel.
Under the existing US-Israel security assistance arrangement, Washington committed to providing Israel with $38 billion in military assistance over 10 years, covering fiscal years 2019 through 2028.
The memorandum of understanding, signed in 2016, provides for approximately $3.3 billion annually in Foreign Military Financing and $500 million annually for missile defence cooperation, subject to applicable congressional appropriations and other requirements.
The arrangement was designed to support Israel’s defence capabilities, including the acquisition of American military equipment and cooperation on missile defence systems.
Although the existing framework is scheduled to run until September 2028, Trump says the funding will stop earlier, at the end of 2026.
Reuters reported that the president did not explain in detail how the proposed early termination would be implemented, particularly given the existing agreement and annual congressional funding processes.
Trump stressed that ending the annual assistance would not necessarily mean an end to US-Israel military cooperation.
According to the president, Israel would remain free to purchase American weapons, preserving an important component of the defence relationship between both countries.
He also suggested that Washington could provide assistance if Israel needed it in the future.
During the interview, Trump did not clearly distinguish between direct financial assistance, military aid, weapons deliveries and other forms of support when questioned about the scope of the proposed decision.
This leaves uncertainty over whether the announcement concerns the entire existing military assistance framework or particular funding arrangements.
Trump attributed the proposed withdrawal of assistance partly to Netanyahu, claiming the Israeli prime minister had raised the idea of ending the funding.
Netanyahu has previously indicated that Israel should gradually reduce its dependence on American military assistance and strengthen its domestic defence production.
However, Trump’s announcement suggests a considerably faster timetable than the gradual transition previously discussed.
As of the reports available on Tuesday, the Israeli government had not publicly confirmed the specific agreement described by Trump.
The announcement therefore remains a presidential declaration whose implementation details and formal status require clarification.
The proposed decision could mark a significant development in US-Israel relations if it results in the early termination of the current assistance arrangement.
Nevertheless, continued weapons purchases, defence cooperation and the possibility of future assistance suggest that the two countries could maintain close security ties even if direct annual funding is discontinued.
The key issues to watch include whether Washington formally changes the existing arrangement, how Congress handles funding already authorised or appropriated, and whether Israeli officials confirm the terms of the reported understanding.
For now, Trump’s announcement points to a possible shift in the financial structure of American support for Israel rather than a complete break in military relations.
