Former President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will cease its $4 billion annual aid to Israel by the end of the year, stating that the country has become prosperous enough to fund its own defense.
"We were giving them $4 billion – we are – but it gets cut off at the end of the year," Trump said in an interview on "Fox & Friends." He characterized the aid as military assistance, cash, or a form of barter, and mentioned that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously discussed phasing out the support, with Netanyahu initiating the idea.
Trump asserted, "They don’t need it. Israel is a very thriving country."
Currently, the U.S. and Israel have a security assistance agreement that provides approximately $3.8 billion annually through 2028. Prime Minister Netanyahu has previously expressed a desire to reduce Israel's dependence on American military aid, although specific details regarding the timeline and terms of such a transition have not been fully disclosed.