Trump Says US Will Stop $4 Billion in Funding to Israel at End of 2026

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he made a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu months ago under which Washington will stop providing Israel with about $4 billion in annual funding after the end of 2026. It remains unclear which specific funding Trump meant, since the memorandum providing Israel $3.8 billion in annual US military aid runs through 2028.

Trump’s statement

Speaking on Fox News’ Fox & Friends, Trump said he and Netanyahu had agreed months ago to end the payments. He said the United States would stop paying Israel by the end of this year, though Washington would still help Israel if needed.

Trump described Israel as a highly successful country and said it no longer needed the funding. He added that Israel could buy American weapons if it wished, saying the United States makes the world’s best weapons.

Political context

Trump accused some Democrats and left-wing politicians of using US financial support for Israel as a talking point to criticise Republicans. He suggested the decision could remove a political point of contention, while still calling Israel a close US ally.

Public support for Israel in the United States has declined since the Gaza war began, particularly among Democrats. A June Quinnipiac University poll found that 48 percent of voters and 66 percent of Democrats believed the United States supports Israel too much.

Agreement and legal uncertainty

The existing 10-year memorandum of understanding between the United States and Israel provides $3.8 billion in annual military aid and is due to expire in 2028. Therefore, it is not immediately clear which funding Trump was referring to or how the payments could be halted at the end of 2026.

Congress authorised funding for Israel in 2020, but the Senate and House of Representatives must still pass appropriations bills each year to allocate and release the money. That means implementing Trump’s announcement could require congressional action.

Netanyahu’s position

Netanyahu’s office did not immediately comment on Trump’s remarks. The Israeli prime minister had previously said he hoped Israel would wean itself off US military aid within a decade, while in a June letter to a US congressman he said it was time for Israel to move from aid recipient to partner.