Trump says US will end military aid to Israel after 2026

Summary

On November 3, 2026, US election day, President Donald Trump said Washington will stop its roughly $4 billion annual military aid to Israel at the end of the year. In a Fox News interview, he said Israel does not need the money and that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed months earlier to end the payments. Le Monde and Al Jazeera put the annual figure at $3.8 billion. Trump said US weapons sales and wider defence cooperation would continue, and that Israel could buy weapons from the United States and other countries, which suggests the change affects the form of assistance rather than ending military ties. He also claimed that some Democrats and left-wing politicians were using US funding for Israel to criticise Republicans. The issue has become a midterm campaign flashpoint. Middle East Eye, citing a June Quinnipiac University poll, reported that 48 per cent of American voters believed Washington was too supportive of Israel. Middle East Eye's headline gives the start date as 2027, while most outlets describe the cut as taking effect at the end of 2026.

Timeline

1. Al Jazeera

   3 Nov 2026, 13:42 UTCSource ↗

   Al Jazeera reports that Trump says the US will stop paying aid to Israel after year-end, amid political debate over military aid and campaign contributions from Israel's backers.

2. Hindustan Times

   3 Nov 2026, 13:51 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports that Trump says the US will end $4 billion in military aid to Israel after 2026 because they do not need it, and says some Democrats and left-wing politicians use the funding to criticise Republicans.

3. Middle East Eye

   3 Nov 2026, 15:06 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that Trump says the US will end its $4bn yearly military aid to Israel under a prior understanding with Netanyahu, while arms sales and wider defence cooperation continue.

4. Financial Times

   3 Nov 2026, 15:32 UTCSource ↗

   The Financial Times reports that Trump made a surprise announcement that the US will end military aid to Israel by the end of the year, halting $4bn in annual funding that has featured prominently in midterm campaigning.

5. The Guardian

   3 Nov 2026, 17:17 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Trump told Fox News on election day that the US will cut nearly $4bn in annual military aid to Israel because they don't need it.

6. Vox

   3 Nov 2026, 19:45 UTCSource ↗

   Vox reports that Trump said on election day the US would cut off military aid to Israel at the end of the year, and questions whether he might actually mean it.

7. Le Monde

   3 Nov 2026, 21:08 UTCSource ↗

   Le Monde reports that Trump announced on midterm election day, with no apparent consultation or detail, his intention to end the annual $3.8 billion in support to Israel.

8. Deutsche Welle

   4 Nov 2026, 00:21 UTCSource ↗

   Deutsche Welle reports that Trump said the US would cut nearly $4 billion in Israel military aid but would still sell weapons to Israel, and that Democratic candidates were using US support for Israel against Republicans in the midterms.

9. Al Jazeera

   4 Nov 2026, 01:13 UTCSource ↗

   Al Jazeera's video report says Trump plans to stop the annual $3.8bn military aid package to Israel by the end of the year, and notes scepticism about the move.