Trump says US aid to Israel stops after 2026

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will halt its annual financial assistance to Israel following the close of this year. Speaking on Fox & Friends, he stated that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached an agreement to stop the funding. Trump argued that the move removes a major political weapon from opponents, noting, “They don’t need it.”

The president claimed the decision originated with Netanyahu. He said the Israeli leader suggested that stopping the aid would be appropriate because Democrats frequently use the spending as a point of contention. “He brought it up,” Trump said. “He said, ‘I think it would be appropriate if we do not receive aid.’” Trump characterized the aid as the “best talking point that these lunatics on the left have,” specifically citing Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who has focused his campaign on the issue.

Under the current terms, Washington provides $3.8 billion annually to Jerusalem. This figure falls under a 10-year compact signed in 2016, which legally extends through fiscal year 2028. Trump did not explain how the agreement will end before its scheduled conclusion. He simply stated that the aid would stop after the end of the year.

Despite the halt in direct aid, Trump said Israel will retain full access to American military hardware. When asked if arms sales were also ending, he replied, “Oh yes, they can buy whatever they want.” He highlighted new production facilities for Patriot and Tomahawk missiles in the United States, signaling a shift toward a commercial relationship rather than a grant-based one.

The announcement arrived as voters prepared to decide control of Congress. Trump framed the decision as a strategic move to silence critics who argue that US taxpayers are overburdened by foreign aid. He maintained that if Israel did need the funds, he would have allowed the payments to continue, but he viewed the economy as “very thriving.”