Trump Says Annual US Funding to Israel Will End After 2026 US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he
By Sammy Tisser,
Trump Says Annual US Funding to Israel Will End After 2026
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached an agreement months ago to end annual US funding to Israel after this year. Speaking on Fox & Friends, Trump described the payments as $4 billion annually, saying, "we made a deal months ago that we're stopping." He argued Israel no longer needs the money: "Because they don't need it." However, he left open the possibility of further assistance, adding, "Now we'll help Israel if they need it."
The announcement points to a much faster timetable than the gradual transition Israeli officials previously outlined. In July, a senior Israeli official said Netanyahu wanted to phase out US military grants within a decade while retaining some missile-defense funding and pursuing a joint weapons research and development fund. The existing aid framework provides $3.8 billion annually and runs through 2028. Ending payments this December would therefore bring forward the proposed shift considerably.
Israel's Defense Ministry previously described the goal as moving toward a reciprocal partnership built around joint research, development and weapons production. That would change how defense cooperation is funded while maintaining joint projects. Trump's remarks leave questions about which payments would stop and what future assistance would cover. Reuters reported that the precise funding involved was unclear and that Netanyahu's office had no immediate comment.
Topics: Missile Defense & Alerts, Israeli Politics, Diplomacy
Reported by Sammy Tisser for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.