Former President Donald Trump announced his intention to cut off U.S. aid to Israel by the end of the year, stating that an agreement had been reached with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"They don't need it. Why should we suffer the slings from al-Sayed when they don't need it. They no longer need it, Israel is a thriving country," Trump said in a Tuesday interview on Fox and Friends.
He elaborated that he and Netanyahu had made a deal to stop the approximately $4 billion in annual aid. "Bibi Netanyahu and I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year, and we made a deal months ago that we're stopping," Trump explained. He added that the aid would be "cut off at the end of the year," but also noted that the U.S. could still provide assistance if circumstances change, calling Israel "a great ally."
Trump revealed that Netanyahu had initiated the conversation about ending American aid, relaying that the Israeli Prime Minister told him, "I think it would be appropriate if we do not receive aid."
According to Trump, Netanyahu understood that U.S. aid was "one of their points of contention," and the leaders had discussed the idea for a couple of years. While direct financial aid is set to cease, the U.S. will continue to sell arms to Israel. The U.S. has provided substantial military assistance to Israel, with a study indicating at least $21.7 billion in military aid after the start of the Gaza war in 2023. Another study from Brown University's Watson School of International and Public Affairs reported that the U.S. had spent approximately $10 billion more on security aid and operations in the broader Middle East over the previous two years.