WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said on Nov 3 that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed months ago to end $4 billion (S$5 billion) in annual US funding to Israel after the end of 2026.
Speaking on Fox News’ Fox and Friends, Trump said Israel no longer needed the assistance and that the United States would still help if required. He argued that Democrats and left-wing politicians had used US financial support for Israel to criticise Republicans, calling the payments a “signal of unfairness.”
“There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu’s office on Trump’s remarks, and it was not immediately clear which specific funding stream the president meant. The current US-Israel memorandum of understanding provides $3.8 billion in annual military aid and is due to expire in 2028, with discussions already under way on future assistance.
Trump said Israel could purchase US weapons directly, adding that the United States makes “the greatest weapons in the world.” Netanyahu had previously said he hoped Israel could move away from US military aid within a decade and become a partner rather than an aid recipient.
Public support for Israel in the United States has declined since the Gaza war began in 2023, especially among Democrats. A June Quinnipiac University poll found that 48% of voters and 66% of Democrats believed Washington was too supportive of Israel, compared with 16% and 20% respectively in 2017.