by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced plans to end nearly $4 billion in annual American military assistance to Israel by the end of 2026, saying he reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to terminate the funding two years earlier than scheduled.
The surprise announcement Tuesday came as Americans voted in closely watched midterm elections that will determine control of Congress for the remaining two years of Trump’s presidency.
Trump told Fox News that Israel had become sufficiently prosperous to finance its own military needs and would remain free to purchase American weapons.
“They don’t need it,” Trump declared. “Israel’s our number one. We give them more than anybody else, and they no longer need it.”
The president claimed Netanyahu had initiated discussions about ending the assistance, although the Israeli leader had previously advocated gradually reducing American military aid rather than abruptly terminating it.
US MILITARY AID AGREEMENT
Under a 10-year agreement signed during President Barack Obama’s administration in 2016, Washington committed $38 billion in military assistance to Israel between fiscal years 2019 and 2028, subject to congressional approval.
The arrangement provides approximately $3.8 billion annually, including $3.3 billion for military equipment purchases and $500 million for missile defense cooperation.
Trump’s announcement would bring that arrangement to an early end, although it remains unclear whether he can implement the decision without congressional approval.
Congress controls federal spending through its annual appropriations process, raising legal and political questions about the president’s authority to terminate funding under the existing agreement.
Trump provided no detailed explanation of how the proposed changes would be implemented, while Netanyahu’s office had not independently confirmed the agreement described by the president.
POLITICAL PRESSURE OVER ISRAEL
Trump acknowledged that domestic political considerations influenced his decision, pointing to growing criticism of American military assistance to Israel.
He specifically mentioned Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan who has campaigned against unconditional military support for Israel.
“Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like an El-Sayed when they don’t need it?” Trump asked. “It’s a bad talking point.”
The announcement came amid changing American attitudes toward Israel following years of conflict in the Middle East, including the devastating war in Gaza triggered by the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
About 1,200 people were killed in those attacks, while Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
REGIONAL SECURITY THREATS
The proposed withdrawal of American military assistance comes as Israel faces major security threats, including from Iran and armed groups backed by Tehran across the Middle East.
The United States and Israel also launched military operations against Iran earlier this year, adding to concerns about regional instability and the financial and military costs of American involvement.
Netanyahu has repeatedly called for Israel to reduce its dependence on American military assistance while expanding domestic defense production.
His government has explored closer military, intelligence and industrial cooperation with Washington as an alternative to direct financial support.
However, critics have warned that shifting American support into Pentagon procurement and joint defense programs could make the financial relationship less transparent.
FUTURE OF US-ISRAEL RELATIONS
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), an influential pro-Israel lobbying organization, expressed support for negotiations on a new security agreement while maintaining that the existing arrangement should remain in place through its scheduled expiration in 2028.
The announcement also triggered criticism in Israel, where politicians have struggled to establish a governing coalition following inconclusive parliamentary elections last week.
Gadi Eisenkot, a leading challenger to Netanyahu, criticized the circumstances surrounding the announcement, arguing that Israeli citizens and security officials should not have learned of such a significant development through media reports.
“The fact that the security establishment, along with Israeli citizens, is learning about a change in the strategic relationship framework through the media highlights just how much Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct poses a genuine danger,” Eisenkot declared. “We can no longer rely on him and must replace him.”
Despite Trump’s announcement, the proposed termination of direct military assistance would not necessarily end American security cooperation with Israel, including weapons sales and joint defense programs.
The decision’s implementation will depend partly on Congress, leaving the future of the longstanding military assistance agreement uncertain.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
