US President Donald Trump announced that he has reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to terminate American financial assistance to Israel following the conclusion of this year. Trump shared the development during an appearance on Fox News’ Fox and Friends, which occurred as voting began for the 2026 midterm elections.
Addressing the $4 billion in annual aid, Trump stated, “We made a deal months ago that we’re stopping. We’ve already agreed that by the end of this year we won’t be paying Israel.” He clarified that the administration would still provide assistance if it became necessary. According to Trump, the initiative was proposed by the Israeli prime minister himself, who recognized the funding as a significant point of contention in American political discourse.
“Bibi Netanyahu brought it up; he said I think it would be appropriate if we do not receive aid,” Trump claimed, suggesting Netanyahu proactively sought the cutoff to mitigate political backlash. Trump specifically cited pressure from critics like Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed as a factor, questioning why the US should endure criticism for funding a country that may not require it. “Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like an El-Sayed when they don’t need it. According to “Talk about a November surprise,”, Kimberly Halkett, reporting from the White House, attributing the move to a desire to undercut criticism of US policy toward Israel both from progressive Democrats like El-Sayed and critics from within his own Make America Great Again movement.
However, the announcement remains unverified by official channels.
Neither the office of the Israeli prime minister nor Israel’s foreign minister has confirmed the existence of such a pact.
Furthermore, the US State Department did not immediately provide comment on the matter. Political analysts noted that because congressional appropriations authorize this spending, the president cannot unilaterally end the funding, leaving it unclear if the claim represents a substantive policy shift or a last-minute electioneering tactic.
The debate surrounding military support and campaign contributions from pro-Israel donors has been a defining issue in this election cycle. Public sentiment toward Israel has notably declined since the start of the conflict in Gaza in 2023. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted in June indicated that 48 percent of all voters and 66 percent of Democrats now believe the United States is too supportive of Israel, a stark increase from figures recorded in 2017. US public support for Israel has fallen since Israel’s genocidal Gaza war began in 2023, especially among Democrats. Up from 16% and 20%, respectively, compared to when the question was asked in 2017, a Quinnipiac University poll in June found 48% of voters and 66% of Democrats believe the US is too supportive of Israel.
This growing divide was highlighted in the House of Representatives this past July, when an amendment offered by outgoing Representative Thomas Massie to cut aid to Israel was defeated by a vote of 314 to 104. Despite the failure of the measure, nearly half of the Democratic caucus supported the move, reflecting a broader shift from the traditionally staunch bipartisan backing of Israel.
The announcement drew skepticism from some political figures. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Republican congresswoman and critic of Trump, dismissed the timing of the statement. “Trump getting permission from Netanyahu to end annual aid to Israel isn’t going to change today’s election results,” she wrote on social media, characterizing the move as a desperate attempt to influence the midterm outcomes as Republicans face electoral headwinds. “But there’s a very important distinction to note,” she added. “Amazing how being on the verge of Republicans getting wiped out in the midterms changes hearts and minds,” another Trump opponent, former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, wrote on X.
