US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will end its annual military aid to Israel—currently about $4 billion per year—after 2026. Trump said he reached this decision with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several months ago. However, he emphasized that Washington will continue to sell weapons to Israel.
The announcement came as a surprise on November 3, 2026, during a phone interview with Fox News on the same day as the US congressional elections. Trump argued that Israel is economically strong and no longer needs American financial support. He also suggested that military aid has become a political issue increasingly used by Democratic candidates to criticize Republicans.
The announcement raises questions, as the current US-Israel military aid agreement is valid until 2028. Trump has not explained how he plans to halt funding already by the end of this year.
Trump: Israel No Longer Needs US Money
In the interview, Trump stated that the US gives Israel about $4 billion per year, and according to him, both countries have agreed to end this financial assistance.
The US President claimed that Prime Minister Netanyahu is on board with this approach, and added that both leaders have been discussing a gradual phase-out of aid for several years.
Trump also stressed that ending financial support does not mean ending military cooperation. He said Israel will still be able to buy American weapons and military equipment.
However, his statement did not include a concrete plan detailing whether direct financing, deliveries of military material, or both would be stopped. The President also did not clarify how he would handle existing commitments.
US-Israel Aid Deal Set to Run Until 2028
The main question centers on the current security assistance agreement between Washington and Tel Aviv. The memorandum of understanding signed in 2016 stipulates that from 2019 to 2028, the US should provide Israel a total of $38 billion.
This is about $3.8 billion annually, with the majority earmarked for the purchase of American arms and military equipment.
Reuters noted that Trump’s announcement lacked details on how the administration plans to end funding, as the existing memorandum has not yet expired. It also remains unclear which specific elements of the aid package would be changed.
Any change to these long-term commitments might require the involvement of the US Congress. For now, the President’s statement does not amount to a detailed implementation plan.
Netanyahu Previously Spoke of Reducing Reliance on US Aid
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously voiced support for gradually reducing Israel’s dependence on American military aid. However, he has not proposed an immediate halt to such assistance.
According to Netanyahu’s earlier statements, Israel should aim for greater financial independence in defense over a roughly ten-year period.
In May 2026, talks reportedly began between the US and Israel on a new agreement to replace the current memorandum once it expires. It is not clear, however, whether any concrete proposal matches Trump’s announcement.
The Israeli government has not immediately provided a detailed response to Trump’s comments, so it remains unconfirmed whether Tel Aviv actually agrees to end the aid as early as the end of 2026.
Military Aid Becomes US Election Campaign Topic
Trump’s announcement came on a day when Americans were voting for a new balance of power in Congress. The US military support for Israel and operations in the Middle East have become major campaign issues.
Some Democratic candidates are criticizing the scale of US aid to Israel and calling for stricter conditions. Among those actively using this topic in their campaign is Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed.
Trump suggested in the interview that Republicans are increasingly being targeted over the issue of supporting Israel. In his view, there is no point in continuing funding that Israel no longer needs and that gives political opponents arguments against Republicans.
The announcement thus has a domestic political dimension. It is not only a question of security cooperation between the two countries, but part of the wider debate about how much foreign aid the US should provide.
Israeli Opposition Warns of Security Risks
Trump’s comments drew criticism from Israeli opposition leaders, who warned that ending US aid could weaken Israel’s security at a time when it faces threats on multiple fronts.
American military support is not strictly about direct financial transfers—it also includes joint development of defensive technology, weapons purchases, and securing systems Israel uses to protect its territory.
A large portion of the American funds returns to the US defense industry, since Israel uses the money to buy US-made weapons and technology. Ending direct aid could change how the two countries cooperate in the defense sector.
According to AP, future cooperation could focus more on joint technology development and arms sales, but it is unclear how quickly such a shift could be implemented.
What Would Ending US Aid Mean for the Middle East?
The United States has long been one of Israel’s most important security partners. Military cooperation deepened following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza conflict.
If Washington were to end its annual financial aid, it would mark a major change in bilateral security relations. Israel would need to adjust the funding of military procurement and possibly increase its own defense spending.
It remains unclear whether Trump’s announcement is a final administration decision or a political aim that must still be discussed with Congress and the Israeli government.
The coming months will reveal whether Washington and Tel Aviv will agree on a new model of cooperation, or if the current military aid system will remain in place until the agreement’s expiration in 2028.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
