Trump Says $4 Billion in U.S. Aid to Israel Will End in Favor of a New Deal

Aid Ends at Year’s Close

In a Tuesday morning interview with Brian Kilmeade of Fox News, Trump said the main portion of U.S. aid to Israel would be “cut off at the end of the year.” He said the change was part of an agreement with Netanyahu reached months earlier.

Trump said the United States had been giving Israel $4 billion. He described continued weapons sales as the replacement arrangement, with Israel covering the cost.

Political Aim of Announcement

Trump said his Election Day announcement was meant to remove what he called a “bad talking point” from the left wing of the Democratic Party. He also called Israel a “thriving country” and said, “Israel’s our No. 1.”

He criticized Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for an open Senate seat in Michigan who has been among Israel’s most vocal critics. Trump said Israel did not need the aid and questioned why the United States should face criticism over it.

Congressional Pressure on Aid

Netanyahu has discussed moving away from U.S. aid in recent months but has not provided a timetable. Trump’s remarks appeared to reflect the difficulty of passing new aid packages through Congress, particularly after Tuesday’s election.

Control of U.S. aid has increasingly served as leverage for lawmakers seeking changes in Israeli government policy. A shift toward arms sales or a trade and technology agreement could make the process less of a recurring congressional dispute, though oversight would remain.

Election Day Timing

Trump spoke as polls opened on the U.S. East Coast, announcing a break from a longstanding element of American foreign policy. He did not mention Gaza or the declining U.S. support for Israel amid its actions since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.