By Fatma Younis
President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that the United States will terminate military aid to Israel by the end of this year, a surprise announcement made during a Fox News interview as voting began in the midterm elections.
Trump's announcement on Fox News
Trump said the nearly $4 billion in annual military assistance would be cut off because “they don’t need it,” adding that the aid would be replaced by arms sales. He framed the decision as a response to criticism from progressive candidates such as Michigan Democrat Abdul El‑Sayed, asking, “Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like El‑Sayed when they don’t need it?”
Netanyahu's role and Israeli reaction
The president claimed the idea originated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying they had discussed it for years. Netanyahu had previously proposed a gradual reduction over a decade, but Trump’s timeline accelerates that sharply. Israeli officials appeared caught off guard, and opposition figures including Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan warned the move damages the strategic relationship and endangers Israel’s security.
Political context and election impact
The announcement comes days after Netanyahu’s party lost its parliamentary majority and as the Michigan Senate race, where El‑Sayed could become the first Muslim U.S. senator, has made U.S. support for Israel a pivotal issue. Recent polls show a historic shift, with 48% of Americans saying the U.S. is too supportive of Israel.
Aid details and recent polling
In 2025 Israel received about $3.8 billion in foreign military financing grants for purchases such as F‑35 fighter jets, plus $500 million for joint missile defense programs. Vice President JD Vance has also criticized Israeli policy, saying “you can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem.” Trump, meanwhile, boasted of his popularity in Israel, joking he could become prime minister there.
